Rome: Feast of San Lorenzo

The martyrdom of San Lorenzo is celebrated in Rome with fireworks and celebrations throughout the area around his crypt on the Via Tiburtina, where he was killed in 258 AD. The patron saint of librarians, firemen, bakers, and other professions whose jobs involve fire and roasting, San Lorenzo’s association with such incendiary professions is certainly a disturbing one — His martyrdom is said to have occurred by slowly being roasted on a gridiron by the troops of the Emperor, and, as he died, is believed to have said in Latin, “Ecce, miser, assasti tibi partem unam, regire aliam et manduca” (“Here, you miserable person: you have roasted one side for yourself, now turn me over and eat”).

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