St. Lawrence
Brindisi
1559-1619
July 21
Saint Francis
wanted his followers to preach what they had learned in prayer. Lawrence was an excellent example of this.
Lawrence was born of devout
middle-class parents in Brindisi in southern Italy. He entered the Capuchins at
the age of 16 and proved an able scholar with a gift for languages. His ability to preach in five languages was
put to good use after his ordination in 1582. When Lawrence preached, he used
Scripture extensively. His sermons fill eight large volumes.
His career falls into three main
categories: teaching theology to the friars, serving as an occasional papal
diplomat, and holding various leadership positions within the Capuchins. In the
last role he sought to balance the rigors of the Capuchin observance with the
needs of the apostolate.
During his lifetime, Lawrence was
the provincial of three different Italian provinces. He was a general definitor (counsellor) twice
and vicar general once. In 1598 he and 13 other friars went to Germany to
establish the Capuchins there; three provinces in time grew from their mission.
In 1601, Lawrence accompanied the
imperial troops which repelled the Turkish advance in Hungary. On returning to
Italy, Lawrence learned of a cruel viceroy in Naples, which was ruled by Spain.
When Lawrence journeyed to Lisbon to explain the situation to Philip III of
Spain, the viceroy was dismissed. Lawrence died in Lisbon on that journey.
After Lawrence’s death a preacher
said of him: “Heroically virtuous, he was humble without littleness,
magnanimous without ostentation, courageous without pride. His faith would have
moved mountains, his hope defied every trial, and his charity knew no bounds.
He united the life of action with the life of contemplation, so that he gave
himself up to incessant labors for the defense of the Church and the salvation
of his neighbor, and yet never lost sight of the holy presence of the Divine
majesty.”
Lawrence was canonized in 1881 and
declared a Doctor of the Church in 1958.
QUOTE: “The
Word of God is a light to the mind and fire to the will. It enables humanity to
know God and to love God. And for the interior person who lives by the Spirit
of God through grace, it is bread and water, but a bread sweeter than honey and
the honeycomb, a water better than wine and milk” (St. Lawrence, Sermo
Quadragesimalis, 2)
COMMENT: Lawrence
was an effective preacher because his life affirmed his sermons. Truly great
preaching requires a basis of prayer and penance.
from McCloskey,
Patrick. Franciscan Saint of the Day. St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1981.
