On August 10th, known as the  Night of Saint Lawrence , millions of people raise their eyes to the sky in search of a fleeting glimpse. According to an ancient tradition, the shooting stars that cross the celestial vault on these dates are not simple meteors: they are the tears shed by Saint Lawrence during his martyrdom, thus becoming a symbol of hope and strength.

Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr, died in Rome on August 10, 258, at the age of 33, under the orders of Emperor Valerian. History tells us that he was martyred on a burning grill, which is why he is the patron saint of firefighters, cooks, and, especially, deacons.

Probably born in Huesca around 225, Lawrence studied theology in Zaragoza. There he met the future Pope Sixtus II, who brought him to Rome. He soon distinguished himself for his consistent life and tireless charity toward the poor, earning him the title of archdeacon. His dedication made him a well-known and respected figure, but also placed him in the crosshairs of the pagan authorities.

His relics are venerated in Rome in the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le mura, built by Emperor Constantine and restored after the bombings of World War II. Another church stands in his honor on Via Panisperna, where he suffered martyrdom.

Pope St. Leo the Great summed it up this way:

“The flames could not overcome the charity of Christ, and the fire that burned outside of him was weaker than the one that burned within him.”

Every year, when shooting stars cross the August sky, tradition reminds us that, beyond the wish we make, the “tears of Saint Lawrence” are a call to live with the same ardent faith he carried to the end.