St. Lawrence
Patron of deacons, librarians, students, the poor, Rome
Saint Lawrence (d. 258), the senior deacon of Pope Sixtus II, was arrested in the persecution of Valerian three days after the pope's beheading. Ordered by the prefect of Rome to surrender the treasures of the Church, he asked for three days, gathered Rome's poor, lame and beggars together, presented them to the prefect, and said, 'Here is the treasure of the Church.' He was condemned to be roasted alive on a gridiron. According to the ancient passion he is reported to have said in the midst of his torment, 'This side is done; turn me over and have a bite.' His tomb on the Verano became one of the great basilicas of Rome.