This week in our Saintly Summer series, we reflect on St. Lawrence, a third-century deacon known for his deep love for the poor, his courage, and his remarkable sense of humor. When St. Lawrence was ordered to hand over the Church’s treasures, he brought the poor and told the Romans, “This is the treasure of the Church.” His boldness ultimately led to his martyrdom, but even in the face of death, St. Lawrence remained joyful and fearless. His example reminds us not to take ourselves—or the difficulties of this life—too seriously. When we remember that God is in control and that our ultimate goal is heaven, we can face challenges with greater courage, faith, and even a little humor.

Saintly Summer Full Text

So growing up. I was always the class clown as a kid and I love to make jokes I was the first to goof off and so naturally growing up one of my favorite Saints was Saint Lawrence the patron saint of comedians. Saint Lawrence lived around, the 3rd Century. He was a deacon, had a great love for the poor and so when he was captured for being a Christian, the Romans told when to gather up all the treasures of the church and to bring it to them. So naturally Saint Lawrence went out to the streets of Rome found all of the poor that he’s used to loving and to serving and brought them to the Romans and said “this is the treasure of the church”. Now, of course, the Romans didn’t take very well to that and sentenced him to death and his martyrdom was to be burned alive on a Gridiron. And he had such humor and such fearlessness in the face of death, that as he being burned alive, he shouted out. “I’m done on this side, you can turn me over!” And I think what we can learn from Saint Lawrence today is to take ourselves lightly. It’s really easy for us to take ourselves seriously to be affected by small or big Injustices that are done to us. But when we know that God is in charge and that our goal is heaven and not glory here on Earth, nothing can phase us.