"'Just as Christ laid down his life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' My brethren, Lawrence understood this and, understanding, he acted on it. - St. Augustine, in a sermon on the feast of Saint LawrenceSaint Lawrence was martyred on August 10, 258 during the persecution of the emperor Valerian along with many other members of the Roman clergy. After the pope, Sixtus II, was martyred on August 6, Lawrence became the principal authority of the Roman Church, having been the Church's treasurer. When he was summoned before the executioners he was ordered to bring all the wealth of the Church with him.