The Tears Of Saint Lawrence

If you look at the stars tonight you may see The Tears of Saint Lawrence.

Laurentius, a Christian deacon, was martyred by the Romans in 258 AD on an outdoor stove. It was in the midst of this torture that Laurentius cried out: "I am already roasted on one side and, if thou wouldst have me well cooked, it is time to turn me on the other."

The saint's death was commemorated on August 10. King Phillip II of Spain built his monastery place the "Escorial," on the plan of the holy gridiron. And the abundance of shooting stars seen annually between approximately Aug. 8 and 14 have come to be known as St. Lawrence's "fiery tears."

The tears are in fact of part of the Swift Tuttle comet. This time every year the Earths orbit crosses the path of the Swift Tuttle comet providing the meteor shower. The comet particles sail into Earths atmosphere at 37 miles per second.