Lawrence of Brindisi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Doctor of the Church | |
| Born | (1559-07-22)July 22, 1559 Brindisi,Kingdom of Naples |
| Died | 22 July 1619(1619-07-22) (aged 60) Lisbon, Portugal |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 1 June 1783,Saint Peter's Basilica,Papal States byPope Pius VI |
| Canonized | 8 December 1881, Saint Peter's Basilica,Kingdom of Italy byPope Leo XIII |
| Majorshrine | Villafranca del Bierzo |
| Feast | 21 July |
| Attributes |
|
| Patronage | Brindisi |
Lawrence of Brindisi, OFM Cap. (22 July 1559 – 22 July 1619), bornGiulio Cesare Russo, was an ItalianCatholic priest, theologian and member of theOrder of Friars Minor Capuchin. An accomplished linguist, in addition to his native Italian, Lawrence could read and speak Latin, Hebrew, Greek, German, Czech, Spanish, and French fluently. Lawrence was ordained a priest at the age of 23. Lawrence was beatified on 1 June 1783 and canonized as a saint on 8 December 1881.
Giulio Cesare Russo was born inBrindisi,Kingdom of Naples, to a family ofVenetian merchants. The Conventuals of Brindisi were entrusted with his education. Showing an early gift for oratory, he was always the one chosen to address, in accordance with the Italian custom, a short sermon to his compatriots on the Infant Jesus during the Christmas festivities.[1] He was twelve when his father died, and continued his education at Saint Mark's College in Venice under the supervision of one of his uncles.
Cesare joined the Capuchins inVerona as Brother Lawrence. He received further instruction from theUniversity of Padua. An accomplished linguist, in addition to his native Italian, Lawrence could read and speak Latin, Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish, and French fluently. While still a deacon he preached the Lenten sermons in Venice. Lawrence was ordained a priest at the age of 23.[2]
At the age of thirty-one, Lawrence was elected superior of the Capuchin Franciscan province of Tuscany.[2] In 1596 he was appointeddefinitor general in Rome for the Capuchins.Pope Clement VIII assigned him the task of preaching to theJews in the city. His knowledge of the Hebrew language was of great help in this regard. Beginning in 1599, Lawrence established Capuchin monasteries in modern Germany and Austria, furthering theCounter-Reformation and bringing manyProtestants back to the Catholic faith.[3] He also founded friaries in Vienna, Prague, and Graz.
It was on the occasion of the foundation of the convent of Prague in 1601 that he was named theimperialchaplain for the army ofRudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor, and successfully recruitedPhilippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur, to help fight against theOttoman Turks. He then led the army during thesiege of Székesfehérvár inHungary from theOttoman Empire, armed only with acrucifix.[1]
In 1602, he was electedvicar general of theCapuchin friars, at that time the highest office in the Order.[2] He was elected again in 1605, but refused the office. Until his death, he was the best adviser of his successors. He entered the service of theHoly See, becomingpapal nuncio toBavaria. After serving as nuncio to Spain, he retired to amonastery in 1618. He was recalled as a special envoy to the King of Spain regarding the actions of theViceroy of Naples in 1619, and after finishing his mission, died on his 60th birthday inLisbon.
He was entombed at the Poor Clares' Convento de la Anunciada (Convent of the Annunciation) inVillafranca del Bierzo, Spain.[4]
Nos cum prole pia
benedicat Virgo Maria.[1]
Mary, with Her loving Son,
bless us each and every one.[5]
He wasbeatified in 1783 by PopePius VI and wascanonized in 1881 by PopeLeo XIII.[6] In 1959Pope John XXIII declared him Doctor of the Church with the title "Apostolic Doctor".[7]
St. Lawrence of Brindisi Complete Works were published in 15 volumes, in a critical edition, between 1926 and 1956. They comprise:
His original manuscripts comprise 13 volumes in parchment and are located at the Archivio dei Cappuccini di Mestre.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Lorenzo da Brindisi".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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