St Lawerence Justinian joined the canons of St George of Alga and lived with them in constant prayer until the pope called him to the episcopate. finally he became the first Patriarch of Venice when that title was transfered from Grado. He combatted the excesses of humanism and his life of austerity made him an example to everybody.
some of Lawrences special charisms were the gift of tears, power over devils, and prophecy. One Christmas night the Christ Child appeared to him. When in his last illness an attempt was made to move him to a more comfortable bed, he refused. "My savior died not on feathers, but on the hard wood of the Cross," He said as he requested to be laid on his usual couch. His last words in this life were "I am coming, good Jesus, to you!"
Venice was at the height of its wealth and influence. But God made that proud city understand that her greatness and wealth resulted more from the sanctity of her poor patriarch Lawrence than from the diplomacy of her doges and the power of her galleys..