Today is St. Laurence Day.
The story of St. Laurence, the deacon, begins after the death of Sixtus, the prefect of Rome
demanded that Laurence turn over the riches of the Church.
Ambrose is the earliest source for the tale that Laurence asked for three days to gather together the wealth.
Laurence worked swiftly to distribute as much Church property to the poor as possible, so as to prevent its being seized by the prefect. On the third day, at the head of a small delegation, he presented himself to the prefect, and when ordered to give up the treasures of the Church, he presented the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering, and said that these were the true treasures of the Church.
One account records him declaring to the prefect, "The Church is truly rich, far richer than your emperor." This act of defiance led directly to his martyrdom.
Tradition holds that Laurence was burned or "grilled" to death, hence his association with the gridiron.
Tradition also holds that Laurence joked about their cooking him while he was burning on the gridiron, hence his patronage of cooks and chefs, stating something along the lines of, "turn me over ... I'm done on this side".
St. Laurence was the natural pick to be the patron over our Mission Work in Sierra Leone. For there, we too, have found the jewels of the church -
the poor
the crippled
the blind
and the suffering
truly they are the treasures of the church
treasures that we have the responsibility to love, care for and come to their assistance.
Please, consider making a donation to the work of Nazareth House Apostolate today.
Remember it is YOUR work, Your prayers, Your love
being carried out in the lives of those in need.
Donations can be made using a credit card through the Donation Link on our website:
Be sure to check back on this blog regularly to see your gift in action.
The story of St. Laurence, the deacon, begins after the death of Sixtus, the prefect of Rome
demanded that Laurence turn over the riches of the Church.
Ambrose is the earliest source for the tale that Laurence asked for three days to gather together the wealth.
Laurence worked swiftly to distribute as much Church property to the poor as possible, so as to prevent its being seized by the prefect. On the third day, at the head of a small delegation, he presented himself to the prefect, and when ordered to give up the treasures of the Church, he presented the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering, and said that these were the true treasures of the Church.
One account records him declaring to the prefect, "The Church is truly rich, far richer than your emperor." This act of defiance led directly to his martyrdom.
Tradition holds that Laurence was burned or "grilled" to death, hence his association with the gridiron.
Tradition also holds that Laurence joked about their cooking him while he was burning on the gridiron, hence his patronage of cooks and chefs, stating something along the lines of, "turn me over ... I'm done on this side".
St. Laurence was the natural pick to be the patron over our Mission Work in Sierra Leone. For there, we too, have found the jewels of the church -
the poor
the crippled
the blind
and the suffering
truly they are the treasures of the church
treasures that we have the responsibility to love, care for and come to their assistance.
Please, consider making a donation to the work of Nazareth House Apostolate today.
Remember it is YOUR work, Your prayers, Your love
being carried out in the lives of those in need.
Donations can be made using a credit card through the Donation Link on our website:
or mailed to
NHA - St. Simeon Skete
Sierra Leone Mission
185 Captains Cove Dr.
Taylorsville, KY 40071
