Laurence 			August 10
Deacon and Martyr at Rome
Laurence was one of the seven deacons in Rome during the time that Sixtus II was pope (d. 258). Apart from his death, not much is known about Laurence, but the way in which he met his death reflects his character.
In 258, during the persecution under Valerian, Pope Sixtus was arrested and executed almost at once. Laurence was also arrested and, according to tradition, ordered to produce the church’s treasure. It is said that he assembled the poor amongst whom as deacon he had distributed the church’s relief funds, and brought a crowd of beggars and cripples and other poor people before the prefect, saying, “These are the treasures of the church.” A much later and unhistorical tradition maintains that Laurence died by being slowly roasted on a gridiron. He was probably beheaded like Sixtus and other martyrs of that time.
Laurence is one of the most famous martyrs of the city of Rome and consequently one of the most famous saints of the Roman church. During the reign of Constantine, a chapel was built over his tomb. This was later enlarged by Pelagius II (579-590) into a basilica, which is incorporated in the present St Laurence outside the Walls. This is but one of the five basilicas in ancient Rome dedicated to St Laurence.
For Liturgical Use
Laurence was one of the seven deacons in Rome during the pontificate of Sixtus II. He died in 258 during the persecution by Valerian. At his trial Laurence was asked to produce the treasures of the church. It is said that he assembled a crowd of poor people amongst whom, as a deacon, he had distributed the church’s relief funds, and presented them to the prefect, saying, “These are the treasures of the church.” The story of his dying by being roasted on a gridiron is a much later addition to the story.
Sentence
The Lord stands at the right hand of the poor, to save from death those unjustly condemned.	
				Psalm 109:31
Collects
Merciful God,
you have shown yourself
as the defender of the oppressed;
kindle in us your loving, sacrificial fire,
so that we, like Laurence,
may treasure the least of your children,
in the name of our Saviour and brother, Jesus Christ.

Jesus the crucified,
blessed are you in Laurence your gallant deacon,
who, when asked to surrender his church’s treasures,
paraded the sick and the poor;
help us to make our values yours.
Psalms	66	86:11-17
Readings
Tobit 4:5-11		The duty of almsgiving
2 Corinthians 9:6-12	God loves a cheerful giver
Matthew 6:19-24		Treasure in heaven
Post Communion Sentence
Jesus said, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”	Matthew 10:32