St. Lawrence

St. Lawrence, one of the deacons of the Roman Church, was one of the victims of the persecution of Valerian in 258, like Pope Sixtus II and many other members of the Roman clergy. During the persecution of Emperor Valerian, in a valiant attempt to continue the support of the poor, Pope Sixtus handed over the wealth of the Church of Rome to his Archdeacon, Lawrence, as he was taken to his own martyr’s death.
On 10 August Lawrence was commanded to appear for his execution, and to bring along the treasure with which he had been entrusted by the pope. When he arrived, the archdeacon was accompanied by a multitude of Rome's crippled, blind, sick, and indigent. He announced that these were the true treasures of the Church. “God do I worship, him alone do I serve and I do not fear your torturing.” Lawrence 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.”I'm done on this side!" And just prior to his death, 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. With that, he went to His heavenly reward.
It is through the ambassadors of Christ, believers who have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and empowered by the Holy Spirit, spread the Kingdom of God. IT is through them the Kingdom of God grows. It is not just the heroic saints and Martyrs who build the church. We all are part of the building process. If we sleep from our duties as Christian then the Kingdom of God will not grow. We have a duty and we are all called to be the ambassadors of Christ by our baptism and confirmation. Yes dear brothers and sisters as we celebrate the feast of St Lawrence the Face of Christ to someone in need today. They may be your family members, your neighbors, your friends. Show the world that the Christian life really is the most life giving and meaningful way to live.