After the martyrdom of Pope Sixtus II and his
deacon companions by Roman emperor Valerian, the prefect of Rome demanded that
Lawrence turn over the riches (relics from the Cross, cup from the Last Supper,
etc.) of the Church to the empire. Ambrose is the earliest source for the tale
that St. Lawrence, a deacon, asked for three days to gather together the wealth. Lawrence
worked swiftly to distribute as much Church property to the poor as possible,
so as to prevent its being seized by the prefect. On the third day, at the head
of a small delegation, he presented himself to the prefect, and when ordered to
give up the treasures of the Church, he presented the poor, the homeless, the
crippled, the blind and the suffering, and said that these were the true
treasures of the Church. One account records him declaring to the prefect,
"The Church is truly rich, far richer than your emperor." This act of
defiance led directly to his martyrdom by fire. _______________
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