When slow consuming had seared
The flesh of Lawrence for a space,
He calmly from his gridiron made
This terse proposal to the judge:
“Pray turn my body, on one side
Already broiled sufficiently,
And see how well your Vulcan’s fire
Has wrought its cruel punishment.”
- From a poem by Prudentius
On the martyrdom of St. Lawrence
For Reflection:
Martyrdom comes in many ways. Sometimes it requires the shedding of our blood, sometimes not. Where am I feeling the consuming heat of martyrdom in my life right now? In what specific way can I accept this suffering with joy and strength as exemplified by St. Lawrence?
