Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons who were in charge of giving help to the poor and the needy. When a persecution broke out, Pope St. Sixtus was condemned to death. As he was led to execution, Lawrence followed him weeping, "Father, where are you going without your deacon?" he said. "I am not leaving you, my son," answered the Pope. "in three days you will follow me." Full of joy, Lawrence gave to the poor the rest of the money he had on hand and even sold expensive vessels to have more to give away.
The Prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church's treasure to him. The Saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church. When he showed them to the Prefect, he said: "This is the Church's treasure!"
In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. The Saint was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little, but Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, God gave him so much strength and joy that he even joked. "Turn me over," he said to the judge. "I'm done on this side!" And just before he died, he said, "It's cooked enough now." Then he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic Faith might spread all over the world. After that, he went to receive the martyr's reward. Saint Lawrence's feast day is August 10th.
I mean, really. Here is someone who is a DEACON (the current purpose for our pilgrimage) and who embraced his crown of martyrdom. I don't know how the last part fits but if you're a mother of many small children and you have to take them with you almost everywhere, perhaps you can identify in some small way. Finally...this guy had a certain "in-your-face" attitude toward the Prefect. I'm not saying I'm always pushing people's buttons but if I could be given a Saint's strength to face martyrdom, I'm guessing I'd be right there saying "Turn me over!" instead of praying quietly while passing from this world. I feel a little bit more confident knowing that we will be celebrating the feast of this great martyr on our first day's journey.
I really have to start cleaning and packing now but here is the rest of the journey. We will be asking each one's intercession on their special day!
August 11th - St. Claire (Blondie's feast day! Television and the Eucharist!)
August 12th - St. Jane Frances de Chantal (devoted wife and founder of the Visitation order)
August 13th - St. Hippolytus (zealous priest who accused the pope of being too lenient ...and later repented of his harsh attitude...he was martyred with a pope.)
August 14th - St. Maximilian Kolbe (amazingly selfless martyr for God...I will probably need some of that lesson by day 5!)
August 15th - The Feast of the Assumption - happens to coincide (ahem) with our visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (I promise I didn't know!)
August 16th - St. Roch (or Rocco in Italy...our family Feast Day! Party!!!)
We are very blessed.
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