Courageous Men of Faith

St. Lawrence, whose feast is celebrated today, was a deacon whose ministry under Pope Sixtus II was to distribute wisely money from the community of Rome to help the poor. Many agencies continue this work in all parts of the world. At one point, when he was asked by the Prefect of Rome, to display the treasures of the Church, and assembled as many poor people as he could muster and presented them to the Prefect. Infuriated, the Prefect then gave Lawrence his last assignment: the gridiron. The famous line, "Turn me over now, this side is done" said in jest, demonstrates his courage and conviction.
While not as intense or dramatic, as Deacon Lawrence, our own Brother Lawrence, one of the early brothers, displays the kind of courage and steadfastness that is within our reach. His ministry was to the children of the mountain villages surrounding LaValla, and he would pack his sack with potatoes for himself and whatever he could find as treats for the children, walk the paths ringing his bell, and gathering these youngsters for their catechism lesson. Alone, but not alone, he spread the Word and brought Jesus to them. No gridirion, but consistency, perseverance and selflessness, also demonstrating courage and conviction. May the example of the dual Lawrences inspire us in little ways to live today with an extra ounce of these virtues.
Bro. Rene