(C.D. Stampley Enterprises, Charlotte, NC 2001). Used with permission.

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For chefs

St. Lawrence (died 258)

Feast Day: August 10

St. Lawrence, the patron saint of chefs, was roasted alive on an iron grill. In the midst of his torment he said to his executioners, “Turn me over, I’m done on this side.”

At the beginning of August 258, the emperor Valerian published an edict outlawing Christianity and commanding that all bishops, priests, and deacons be put to death. On August 6 {ln:Pope} St. Sixtus II was arrested in the catacomb of Praetextatus on the Appian Way outside the walls of Rome. The {ln:Pope} had just finished saying Mass and was seated, addressing the congregation, when the soldiers broke in. They arrested Sixtus and four of his deacons, but for some reason they did not take the deacon Lawrence who was also present.

As the soldiers led their prisoners away, Lawrence tried to hold Sixtus back. “Where are you going, priest without your deacon?” he said. “Where are you going, father without your son?”

Divinely inspired, {ln:Pope} Sixtus promised Lawrence that they would be reunited in three days.

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As Sixtus and his deacons went to trial and execution, Lawrence hurried back to the city. Rather than see the Church’s sacred vessels confiscated by the pagan state, Lawrence sold them and distributed the money to the poor.

Then Lawrence received a command to appear before the prefect of Rome. At the tribunal the prefect promised not to harm Lawrence if he handed over the treasures of the Church. The deacon asked for a little time to comply with this order; he was granted three days.

When Lawrence returned to the tribunal on August 10, he was followed by a large crowd of the lame, the blind, the poor, and the helpless, all of whom had been supported by the Church. “Here,” he said, “are the Church’s treasures.”

The prefect was not amused. He commanded his guard to seize Lawrence, strip him naked, and bind him to an iron grill. Beneath the grill the executioners built a slow fire. As glowing coals broiled him alive St. Lawrence called out to his tormentors, “Turn me over! I’m done on this side.” A minutes later Lawrence was dead.

The details of St. Lawrence’s activities in the days following {ln:Pope} Sixtus’ arrest, and his grisly martyrdom come to us from St. Ambrose (c.340-397) and the Christian poet Prudentius (348-c.410). While there is no doubt that these stories about St. Lawrence were current among Christians, especially in Rome, scholars continue to argue whether these are Authentic details carefully passed down by oral tradition, or legendary material that accumulated around a widely admired martyr.

Christians buried St. Lawrence on the Via Tiburtina outside the city walls. About the year 320, in recognition of the profound reverence in which the martyr was held by the Christians of Rome, Constantine built a fine basilica over St. Lawrence’s tomb. The church still stands today, much enlarged and embellished over the centuries.

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Prayer to the saints is a powerful thing.

Now, with Saints for Every Occasion, readers can quickly find help for any challenge they face – no matter how large or small. Author Thomas J. Craughwell profiles 101 patron saints from various continents, cultures and times – from saints who were contemporaries of Christ, to modern patrons like Padre Pio and Faustina Kowalska. Each saint lived heroically in difficult times and circumstances, providing powerful examples of how to turn almost any obstacle into a source of grace. Along with old favorites such as St. Anthony and St. Jude, Craughwell offers patrons for specifically modern concerns, including, for example, saints to watch over astronauts, internet users and environmental activists. Beautifully illustrated and entertainingly told, Saints for Every Occasion features 101 patron saints readers will seek out time and again.

“An excellent resource for home and classroom use.” – Publisher’s Weekly {/tabs}