Yesterday was the Feast of a twentieth century martyr; today we celebrate the Feast of a third century martyr. St Lawrence, when asked to produce the ‘treasures of the Church’, filled it with poor people, and declared, ‘These are the treasures of the Church’.

St Luke’s version of the Beatitudes has: ‘Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God’. St Lawrence was well within the tradition of the Beatitudes! May he pray for us, and may God bless you this day.