Saint Lawrence
Patron of Chefs;
Invoked as an Escort through the Gates of Heaven
Feast Day: August 10
Lawrence’s story took place long ago. He was a librarian and archivist in the early Church. He was also one of the world’s first tax collectors and it was believed he maintained a data base that included the names and addresses of all the townspeople. During the reign of Pope Sixtus, Emperor Valerian overtook the Church. Sixtus quickly called in Lawrence and told him to take the riches of the Church and distribute them to the residents who needed help. The Emperor’s cronies heard of the plan, however and instead demanded that Lawrence provide the Emperor with all of the Church’s wealth. Lawrence considered their demands and asked for 3 days to accomplish the task. He was granted the time and prepared to complete his duties. When the 3 days were over Lawrence was told to provide the wealth from the Church to the Emperor. Lawrence then assembled all of the towns’ poor and infirm, its sick and downtrodden, its disabled and disfigured, as well as widows and orphans and brought them before the leaders, all of whom did not share Lawrence’s great insight on the definition of “wealth.” Lawrence was severely punished for his actions and went to jail. He was tortured and eventually put on a gridiron to be burnt to death. It is said that Lawrence gracefully endured all of the cruelties suffered without comment. As he lay on the gridiron frying from the heat, he told his tormentors, “You can turn me over now – this side is done!” Lawrence is also said to have run an early day escort service! He has had the privilege of taking someone out of Purgatory and in through the Gates of Heaven every Friday of the year since the late 200’s. © 2002
5866 General Diaz Street
New Orleans, LA 70124
504.482.2467 & 504.239.3143
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Each SfS medal is imported from Italy,
painted by hand in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is
one of a kind original
“The Saints are the Sinners who keep on trying”
-Robert Louis Stevenson
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