Prayer:Prayer to St. Lawrence
Stored: Prayer to St. Lawrence
| Prayer to St. Lawrence | |
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| Author | Unknown |
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| Language | English |
| Approval | None |
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| Added on | 2026-08-14 |
Prayer to St. Lawrence is a traditional Catholic intercessory prayer addressed to St. Lawrence, the third-century Roman deacon and martyr who was burned alive on a gridiron for his faith during the persecution of Emperor Valerian in 258 AD. This prayer invokes his powerful intercession before God, asking for the graces of courage, patience, and cheerfulness in the face of suffering and trial.
St. Lawrence is one of the most beloved martyrs of the early Church and is venerated throughout both the Latin West and the Eastern Churches. His feast day is celebrated on August 10 and ranks as a Feast in the Roman Calendar, reflecting his extraordinary importance in Catholic tradition. His famous declaration to his torturers—"Turn me over; I am done on this side"—has long been a symbol of the joy and fortitude that Christian faith can inspire even in the most extreme suffering.
This prayer draws upon the ancient Catholic practice of invoking the saints as intercessors, asking them to present the prayers of the faithful before the throne of God. Given St. Lawrence's celebrated martyrdom by fire, he is also traditionally invoked as a patron against fire, and his intercession is sought by the poor, cooks, deacons, and all who endure physical or spiritual suffering.
The Prayer
O glorious St. Lawrence, martyr and deacon, you who endured the flames with patience and joy for the love of Christ, intercede for us before the throne of God.
You gave the treasures of the Church to the poor, declaring them to be the true riches of the Church, and so you were found worthy to be crowned with martyrdom.
Obtain for us the grace to bear the trials and sufferings of this life with courage and cheerfulness, that we may follow your example of unwavering faith and single-hearted love for Christ and His poor.
Bring our petitions before the Lord, and pray that we may one day share in that glory which you now enjoy in heaven.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
History and Background
St. Lawrence was born around 225 AD, likely in Huesca in Roman Spain, though some traditions place his origin in Valencia. He became one of the seven deacons of Rome under Pope Sixtus II, who was martyred just three days before Lawrence himself. As archdeacon, St. Lawrence was responsible for the material goods and charitable works of the Roman Church.
When the Roman prefect demanded that Lawrence surrender the treasures of the Church, the saint gathered the poor, the sick, the crippled, and the suffering of Rome and presented them to the prefect, declaring, "These are the treasures of the Church." This act of holy defiance led to his condemnation and his death by roasting on a gridiron on August 10, 258 AD, during the persecution of Emperor Valerian.
Veneration of St. Lawrence spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire. The Emperor Constantine built the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence Outside the Walls) over his tomb on the Via Tiburtina in Rome, and it remains one of the four major papal basilicas. His cultus was firmly established by the fourth century, and Pope St. Leo the Great and St. Augustine of Hippo both delivered celebrated sermons in his honor. St. Augustine called Lawrence's martyrdom an event that broke the power of paganism in Rome.
The tradition of praying to St. Lawrence for courage in suffering flows naturally from his remarkable example. For nearly two millennia, Catholic faithful have turned to him as a model of joy under persecution and as a powerful intercessor for those who endure hardship, poverty, or physical affliction.
How to Pray / Devotional Use
This prayer may be prayed at any time, but it is particularly appropriate on or around the Feast of St. Lawrence on **August 10**. It is also suitable for:
- **Daily devotions** for those who work in charity or service of the poor, recalling St. Lawrence's identification of the poor as the Church's treasure.
- **Times of physical suffering or illness**, asking for the same fortitude Lawrence showed on the gridiron.
- **Deacons and seminarians** who may invoke St. Lawrence as the patron of their order and ask for his intercession in their ministry.
- **Before meals**, as St. Lawrence is a patron of cooks and chefs, and the prayer may fittingly precede grace before dinner on his feast day.
- **Novena use**, praying this prayer for nine days preceding August 10 as a novena leading into his feast.
When praying this prayer, it is fitting to reflect on the passages from the day's liturgy, particularly the antiphon from the Divine Office for his feast: *"The fire of divine love burned more fiercely in Lawrence than the flames of his torment."* This disposition of interior surrender to God's will is the spiritual fruit this prayer seeks to cultivate.