Saint Lawrence: A Feast for August (and Flint/ETZNAB)
My path has been blessed by the Communion of Saints. Engaging the Saints is one difference between the Catholic and Protestant Christian traditions. The Christian doctrine considers it the sin of worshiping idols. Catholic tradition views it as Communion with the Body of Christ (ie. Humans that ascend in Spirit become One in the Spirit of Christ).
You can explore the Communion of Saints and the meaning of the traditions in an article, “The Bible Supports Praying to the Saints” by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, published 7/1/1990 published in the Catholic.com Magazine, to discern your own truth. I was raised in the Methodist Church, so it’s all new to me.
The Feast of Saint Lawrence was celebrated August 10. I discovered him “by accident” when a prayer card for Saint Lawrence was included when I ordered a card for Saint Jude (Thaddeus) who became my patron Saint a little over 3 years ago.
He was a “testy” Saint who’s story reminds me of Flint, and standing in his Truth in no uncertain terms. Saint Lawrence or Laurence was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman emperor Valerian ordered in 258. I never heard of him, but found he is among the most venerated Saints. His remains rest at the Basilica of St Lawrence Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy. Read on to hear his story, how he was martyred, and the Divine Reason why.
