The ‘tears of Saint Lawrence’

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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I love “Stardate.” It’s one of the best things about listening to public radio. Hearing the soft, soothing voices speak of the ancient movement of celestial bodies makes my heart sing.

Thursday’s show was particularly poignant, seeing as how there’s a bit of a local connection. The show detailed the Perseid meteor shower, which can be seen in the night sky this time of year.

The meteor shower became famous for its link to Saint Lawrence, the show tells us, after the Chinese first recorded the shower in 36 A.D. The religious link came after a Roman emperor had the pope and Saint Lawrence (a deacon in the early Catholic church) and several other deacons killed.

Legend has it that Saint Lawrence was burned to death. The meteor shower came to be known as the “tears of Saint Lawrence” because the shower fell on his feast day, Aug. 10.

Now the local link: as you all know, Ashvegas is home to the Basilica of Saint Lawrence. A sculpture of Saint Lawrence stands perched atop the basilica, looking down over Ashvegas. He is holding a grate, a roasting grate, in a nod to the legend of how he died (though Stardate says he was probably beheaded.)

You have to look closely, but it’s there. Check it out next time you’re downtown. Saint Lawrence is the statue in the middle of the three atop the basilica. I’m not sure who the other two are – I’ll have to check that out.

That’s the Catholic church for you – a little edgy, a little gruesome, a little guilty, but a whole lot of forgiveness there for the asking.

Go here to see Stardate’s Web site.