Feast Day Of Laurence Of Rome

"Lawrence before Valerianus" - Fra Angelico - Nicholas Chapel, Vatican Museum

Ormonde at Through the Dust has a wonderful post, which includes a lovely icon, on Laurance of Rome, deacon and martyr. His post includes the legend about "the treasures of the church" which the prefect of Rome demanded that Laurence hand over.


2 Corinthians 9:6-10

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,
‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures for ever.’
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.


PRAYER

Almighty God, who called your deacon Laurence to serve you with deeds of love, and gave him the crown of martyrdom: Grant that we, following his example, may fulfill your commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving you with all our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Image from Wiki.

UPDATE: Padre Mickey has a very good post on St. Laurence, too.