Saintly Saturday - St. Lawrence of Brindisi


Guilio Caesare de Rossi was born on July 22, 1559 in Brindisi, a kingdom of Naples, Italy. He was educated by the Franciscans, but his parents died when he was just 12 years old. His uncle in Venice took him in and continued his education there at St. Mark's. Part of his education included becoming fluent in both spoken & written form of many languages besides his native Italian...Spanish, Latin, Hebrew, French, etc.

Caesare joined the Capuchins in Verona when he was 16. There he took the name Lawrence. He was ordained as  a Franciscan priest in 1582, at the age of 23.

Following are some of his ventures & accomplishments.
  • In Prague, Vienna, & Gorizia, he & Blessed Benedict of Urbino founded friaries to fight against Lutheranism. He labored to teach the truths of the Catholic Faith to those who'd fallen away from the Church to follow Protestantism. He became know to some as a Counter-Reformation Warrior.
  • In 1601, Emperor Rudolf II asked him to build an army of German rulers to fight the Turks who were threatening Hungary. As chaplain of this army, he rode ahead of the troops with a crucifix in hand. (see picture above) Their victory has been attributed to his efforts.
  • Lawrence was a papal emissary & peacemaker. His final mission of peace was to Lisbon to visit the King of Spain. Due to the extreme heat & difficult journey, he grew ill & died on July 22, 1619 (his 60th birthday) just a few days after their meeting.
Throughout his lifetime, he produced many writings, including a Genesis commentary, treatises against Luthor, & sermons that fill nine volumes. 

Lawrence was canonized in 1881 & named a Doctor of the Church* in 1959. We celebrate his feast day on July 21 (although Portugal celebrates on the actual day of his death, July 22). He is the patron saint of Brindisi.

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*A Doctor of the Church is a special recognition of a saint who's writings or teachings have had great significance on the doctrine & Theology of the Catholic Church. They displayed extreme holiness in their lifetime & great depth of doctrinal understanding. Currently there are 37 named by the Church, the most recent being St. Ireanus of Lyons in January 2022 by Pope Francis.

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