In four manuscripts of the Laurentian Library this sermon is found, hitherto unedited, inscribed to Saint Maximus, namely in codex 39 of Plut. XVII, page 171, in codices 173 and 174 of the library formerly belonging to the metropolitan church of Florence, and in a fourth of the Minor Conventuals, Plut. XVII. It exists also in the Cassinese codex 101, page 136, with an inscription of this kind: 'On the birth of Saint Lawrence the martyr, a sermon of Saint Maximus the bishop.' Confirmed therefore by these clear testimonies, we do not hesitate to bring it into the light.
Although, dearest brethren, the whole world stands amazed together with us at the passion which on this present day triumphed over the perfidy of the age, yet with a special joy the Roman Church admires the valour of her own foster-son. For she ought to rejoice above the rest, who, ennobled by so noble a blood, possesses in a certain way the peculiar dignity of a native martyr. This man, then, while he was discharging the office of archdeacon in the apostolic see, and while the avaricious persecutor was pressing him to give up the vessels dedicated to the heavenly mysteries, gathered a multitude of the poor and, most faithful man that he was, mercifully distributed what the sacrilegious one was scheming to seize as plunder;
and this singular man chose rather to draw upon himself the assaults and onslaughts of the powers, than that the venerable ministrations should be exposed through him to impious eyes. At this most religious deed of his, the pagan fury soon blazed up with unbounded cruelty, and seizing him forthwith it ordered him to be placed upon a gridiron over the fires, that by the burning of his body it might test the strength of his devoted mind. For a most faithful heart knows not how to yield to a mortal fire, when the fervour of the Spirit had already kindled it to every fortitude of the age. Why, perhaps, dost thou rage, O pagan? Why dost thou devise vain things? Thy fire is not Lawrence's punishment, but his light; thy flame, by which thou thinkest to torment him, is the testing of truth, not the pity of a Christian.
For, dearest brethren, that the divine power permits its own little servants to endure such things belongs to the eternal majesty and is a hidden counsel, in order that all unbelief may recognize that our faith is upheld by every truth. So secure is its possession that it laughs at the raging world, and glories in the very torments of its own body. Lawrence is burned for the confession of the true God, and while he endures the flames of this world alike, he quenches for himself the everlasting burning of hell. O torment to be desired by all the faithful, by which all that dread punishment of judgment is dissolved! O fire to be longed for, by which everlasting refreshment is procured for pious souls! The flesh of Lawrence is indeed discoloured by the fires, but the soul of the martyr is adorned;
the body is shaken, but the spirit grows strong, and the corruption of the members transmits the rejoicing soul to God, so that the body which did not yield to torments for the sake of truth might be reformed more gloriously by the privilege of the victorious soul. But let us now see with what patience of faith Saint Lawrence bore the torments of the flames. This man, then, while he is broken by multiplied fire, by the burning of glowing iron, and while, driven by cruel torment, he is now thought to be failing, suddenly burst forth into the voice of one indignant and mocking: Turn me over, he said; O king, eat, it is now cooked. By which, I ask, the most cruel torturer was confounded with shame, since amid the torments of the man thus placed he was not only honoured by no prayer, but was rebuked by the reproach of one insulting him!
And how great a mockery Lawrence made of him, when, though he had withdrawn from him a rich meal for himself, he offered the food of his own scorched body! These, then, brethren, are the merits of Lawrence, this the glory of his martyrdom. He enriched the poor, he did not lose the sacraments, he mocked the fires, and, leaving the world as a victor, with a triumphant voice he condemned the madness of his persecutor.