Laurence, Archdeacon and Martyr
The collect for today, the Feast of St. Laurence (d. 258), Archdeacon of Rome, Martyr (source):
Almighty God,
who didst make Laurence
a loving servant of thy people
and a wise steward of the treasures of thy Church:
inflame us, by his example, to love as he loved
and to walk in the way that leads to everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
The Epistle: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
The Gospel: St. John 12:24-26
Artwork: Four Scenes from the Life of St. Laurence, 1330. Fresco, Nave Colonnade, San Lorenzo de’ Arari, Orvieto. Photographs taken by admin, 31 May 2010.
The four scenes, left to right in original fresco, top to bottom above, are:
1. St. Laurence releasing souls from purgatory;
2. Martyrdom of St. Laurence;
3. St. Laurence brought in chains before the Emperor Valerian;
4. St. Laurence giving alms to the poor.