Celebrating St. Lawrence the way he would want it
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A group of deacons in the Diocese of Syracuse gathered last week to honor St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr, prior to his Aug. 10 feast day. The event, held at St. Joseph’s Church in Camillus, marked the second annual prayer service and summer cookout honoring the saint known for laughing in the face of death in somewhat barbecue style.
St. Lawrence was known for his care of Rome’s poor and sick, whom he presented to a ruthless civic official as the “treasure” of the Church when the man was expecting gold and riches. Sentenced immediately to death by roasting over an open fire, Lawrence famously called out to his executioners with a smile, saying “Turn me over.” In his dying moments and spared by God of much of the pain of the fire, he prayed that the people of Rome would be converted to believers in Christ.
The local cookout may seem a little satirical to some, but, after all, among other titles Lawrence is the patron saint of comedians.
