Blessed Lawrence

Upon returning to Italy after this long journey, Lawrence withdrew to a place near the monastery of Su Subiac Place of monastic retreat and formation in Italy. biaco and practiced the eremitic life there. The desire for greater perfection led him to request permission from the religious of the abbey of Subiaco to settle on a mountain quite close to their house and not far from the cave where the great Saint Benedic t once lived saint Benoît Founder of the Benedictine Order, cited as a chronological reference point. . Having obtained it, he chose a place there to dwell, and there he lived very holily for many years. Having received several disciples, he trained them in the practice of the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Among the virtues that shone in this servant of God, his abstinence was especially noted. It was so rigorous that he ate only once a day, and his only food was bread, water, and a few herbs. His mortification seems almost incredible, so much effort did he put into afflicting his body and reducing it to servitude. He wore an iron cuirass against his bare skin; he had circles of the same metal on his arms, thighs, and legs. Furthermore, he wore on his head two iron rods placed in the shape of a cross. Animated by the desire to imprint within himself the image of the suffering Jesus, he was in the habit of burning his forehead each year on Good Friday.

Cardinal Ugolino, who later attained the papacy under the name Gregory IX, having come to visit the blessed Lawrence, u Grégoire IX Pope who attested to the miracles of Bruno. rged him to moderate the rigor of his penance. Docile to the voice of a superior and a child of obedience, the servant of God relaxed his austerities a little; but his ardor for mortification led him to find other ways to practice it. He applied himself with extreme care to preserving chastity. His silence was almost perpetual; three days each week, and during the whole of Lent, he did not allow himself to say a single word.

His charity for his neighbor was very vivid, and the poor inspired in him a tender affection. The Blessed Virgin had in Laurent the most devoted son, and he gave her a manifest proof of this devotion by building in her honor a church between two fountains that can still be seen and which are said to have sprung from the earth in a miraculous manner.

After having led the most edifying life for a long time, the servant of God went to receive from the Lord the crown of justice on August 16, 1243. His body, buried in the place where he had lived, remained there for several centuries. In 1734, it was transferred to the cave of Saint Benedict grotte de saint Benoît Place of monastic retreat and formation in Italy. and exposed for public veneration. Under the pontificate of Innocen t IV, inqui Innocent IV 13th-century pope who testified to the saint's miracles. ries had been undertaken regarding the holiness of the venerable Lawrence; they made it known that he had performed several miracles during his life. After his deat h, Piu Pie VI Pope cited as having approved the cult of Julie in 1821. s VI, desiring to increase his cult, permitted the celebration of the Mass and the Office in his honor.

See the lessons in the Monastic Breviary, printed in R ome in 18 Godescard Hagiographer and translator, primary author of the source. 31 (Godescard).