On August 10 every year, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Lawrence, a deacon and martyr. The esteem in which the church holds St. Lawrence is seen in the fact that the celebration of his sainthood ranks as a feast. The church built over his tomb became one of the seven principal churches in Rome and a favorite place for Roman pilgrimages.
 
It is said that on 6 August 258, by decree of Emperor Valerian, Pope Saint Sixtus II and six deacons were beheaded, leaving Lawrence as the ranking church official in Rome. While in prison awaiting execution, Pope Sixtus reassured Lawrence that he was not being left behind; they would be reunited in four days.
 
Lawrence was charged with the responsibility of the material goods of the Church and the distribution of alms to the poor. When he knew that he would be arrested, he saw this time as an opportunity to disperse the material wealth of the church before the Roman authorities could lay their hands on it. Lawrence was commanded to appear for his execution on August 10 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, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned and widowed persons and put them in rows. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, “These are the true treasures of the Church.” The prefect was so angry and had a great gridiron prepared with coals beneath it and had Lawrence’s body placed on it. After the martyr had suffered pain for a long time, the legend concludes he made his famous cheerful remark, “It is well done. Turn it over and eat it!”
 
Besides St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr whose martyrdom is found in the book of the Acts of Apostles, many deacons have a special reverence toward St. Lawrence as their patron saint. In our region this year, we give thanks to God for our five permanent deacons: one retired, Deacon Ray George, and four active deacons, Steve Ryan, Walt Hucke, Dominic Vu and Matt Skinner. They have requested a special blessing during the feast Mass of St. Lawrence. At the example of St. Lawrence, we pray that their lives may always be a total response to Christ.
 
We thank them for all the they do as they serve in the ministries of “word, sacrament, and charity.” Not only that, they read the Gospels (Holy Scripture) at the Mass and affirm the role of teaching and engaging in the study of Holy Scripture. By the Sacramental ministry, they prepare and baptize members of the Church, prepare and preside over weddings, wake services and funerals, blessings of people, objects, and places, and distribute Holy Eucharist. Above all, the vital role of the deacon is minister of charity, compassion, and social justice.
 
With love for the Lord and the Church, they are unpaid clerics who, by their service, build a bridge between the liturgical Church and the concerns of the world. We thank them for being a voice that calls attention to the Church community, to the needs of others, and to the hopes of the world. Let us pray for them and when you see them, thank them for their ministry. St. Lawrence, pray for us.
 
Fr. Lambert