Traudel
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 Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject: July 21st - St. Lawrence of Brindisi |
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July 21st - St. Lawrence of Brindisi
Born in Brindisi, Naples, Italy, July 22, 1559; died in Lisbon, Portugal,
July 22, 1619; beatified in 1783; canonized in 1881; declared a Doctor of
the Church by Pope John XXIII in 1959; feast day formerly on July 23.
Cesare de Rossi was born to a Venetian family in the kingdom of Naples. He
was educated by the local Conventual Franciscans and then by his uncle in
the College of Saint Mark in Venice. He was both a brilliant military
tactician as well as a peacemaker.
At age 16, he became a Capuchin Franciscan in Verona and took the name
Lawrence. He pursued higher studies in theology, philosophy, and Scripture
at the University of Padua. There he demonstrated an incredible gift for
languages-Greek, Hebrew, German, Bohemian, French, and Spanish-and excelled
at Bible studies. He gave a Lenten course of sermons while still a deacon,
and after being ordained, he preached successfully in Padua, Verona,
Vicenza, and elsewhere in northern Italy.
In 1596, he became a definitor general of the order in Rome, a position he
was to hold five times. Pope Clement VIII commissioned him to evangelize the
Jews; his facility with Hebrew contributed to his success at this task. He
accompanied Blessed Benedict of Urbino to Germany to establish the Capuchins
as a means of counteracting the spread of Lutheranism. They nursed plague
victims and established monasteries at Prague, Vienna, and Gorizia, which
were to develop into the provinces of Bohemia, Austria, and Styria. Lawrence
then was elected minister general of the Capuchins.
During this time, the Turks were threatening to conquer Hungary. Emperor
Rudolf II begged Lawrence to unite the German princes against them. As a
result of his efforts, an army was mustered, and he was appointed chaplain
general. Before the battle of Szekes-Fehervar in 1601, the generals
consulted him on strategy. He advised an attack, rallied the troops, and
rode before the army with a crucifix. The victory of Szekes-Fehervar was
attributed to him.
In 1602, he was elected vicar general of the Capuchins but refused
re-election in 1605. The emperor later commissioned Lawrence to persuade
Philip III of Spain to join the Catholic League, and in the course of this
task, he founded a house of Capuchins in Madrid. He was then sent to Munich
as nuncio of the Holy See at the court of Maximilian of Bavaria, head of the
League, from which location, in addition to his other duties, he
administered two provinces of his order.
After serving as a diplomat for two more royal families, returned to the
monastery of Caserta in 1618, desiring a more solitary life. Representatives
from Naples came to him, however, and asked him to intercede for them with
King Philip about the Spanish viceroy, the duke of Osuna, whose dictatorial
methods they feared would cause a rebellion.
Although he was ill and tired and predicted that he would not return alive,
he agreed. He was forced to travel to Lisbon in the heat of summer. There he
convinced the king of the seriousness of the case, and the duke was
recalled. After accomplishing his aim, he returned to his lodging and died
on his sixtieth birthday. Lawrence was buried in the cemetery of Poor Clares
at Villafranca.
His written works included some controversial pieces against the Lutherans
and a commentary on Genesis, but his main contributions are in the nine
volumes of his sermons (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney,
Encyclopedia, Farmer, Walsh, White).
From:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0721.shtml
Saint Quote:
Since God has not given me the gift of preaching, I want to consecrate
myself to drawing souls back to Him through the Sacrament of Penance.
--Saint Léopold Bogdan Mandic
Bible Quote:
He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the
glory of him that sent him, he is true, and there is no injustice in him.
(John 7:18)
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Prayer Before a Picture of Jesus
O Jesus, when I look on you
My love for you starts up anew,
And tells me that your heart loves me
And you my special friend would be.
More courage I will need for sure,
But any pain I will endure,
Because it makes me like to you
And leads unto your kingdom too.
In sorrow do I find my bliss,
For sorrow now no more is this:
Rather the path that must be trod,
That makes me one with you, my God.
Oh, leave me here alone and still,
And all around the cold and chill.
To enter here I will have none;
I weary not when I'm alone.
For, Jesus you are at my side;
Never so close did we abide.
Stay with me, Jesus, my delight,
Your presence near makes all things right.
-Blessed Titus Brandsma
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Precious Blood Prayer
Precious Blood Ocean of Divine Mercy, flow upon us;
Precious Blood Most Pure Offering, procure us every grace;
Precious Blood Hope and Refuge of sinners, atone for us;
Precious Blood Delight of holy souls, draw us! Amen.
by St. Catherine of Sienna |
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