Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Confessor & Doctor
S. Laurentii a Brundusio Confessoris et Ecclesiae Doctoris
Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, a Capuchin friar of remarkable learning and zeal, preached the Gospel across Europe and is honoured as a Doctor of the Church for the riches of his teaching.
Saint Lawrence was born at Brindisi, in the kingdom of Naples, in 1559, and received the name Julius Caesar at his baptism. While still young he entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, taking the name Lawrence, and there he gave himself to study and to the pursuit of holiness with equal ardour.
A preacher of rare gifts
Saint Lawrence was endowed with an extraordinary gift for languages, mastering not only Latin and Greek but Hebrew and several modern tongues, so that he could expound the Scriptures to Jew and Gentile alike in their own speech. He drank deeply from the sacred text, which he is said to have known almost by heart, and from this fountain he preached with a power that drew many to conversion and strengthened the faithful in the truths of the Catholic faith.
His talents were employed in the service of the whole Church. He governed his order in high office, was sent on missions of peace and diplomacy among the princes of Europe, and laboured to renew Catholic life in the lands of the German empire. On one occasion he went out with the Christian army against the Turkish invasion, going before the soldiers with crucifix in hand to encourage them, trusting not in arms but in God. Through all his journeys and labours he remained a friar of deep prayer and tender devotion, especially to the mystery of the Word made flesh and to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Doctor of the Church
Saint Lawrence died at Lisbon in 1619, worn out in the service of the Church, and was canonised in 1881. In 1959 Pope John XXIII declared him a Doctor of the Church, giving him the title Doctor apostolicus, the “Apostolic Doctor,” for the apostolic zeal and the sound learning of his many sermons and writings. The collect of his feast prays that God, who filled blessed Lawrence with the spirit of wisdom and fortitude to undertake hard things for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, may grant us in that same spirit to know what we ought to do and, through his intercession, to accomplish it.
The Collect
O God, who didst endow blessed Lawrence, thy Confessor and Doctor, with the spirit of wisdom and fortitude to undertake whatsoever was difficult for the glory of thy name and the salvation of souls: grant unto us in the same spirit both to know what we ought to do, and by his intercession to accomplish what we have known.
Deus, qui ad árdua quæque pro nóminis tui glória et animárum salúte beáto Lauréntio, Confessóri tuo atque Doctóri, spíritum sapiéntiæ et fortitúdinis contulísti: da nobis in eódem spíritu et agénda cognóscere; et cógnita, ejus intercessióne, perfícere.
Patronage
He is honoured as a Doctor of the Church (the “Apostolic Doctor”) and is venerated within the Capuchin and wider Franciscan family.
In the Modern Calendar
In the modern calendar his feast is observed on 21 July as an optional memorial.
Common Questions
When is the feast of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi?
His feast is kept on 21 July in both the 1962 Roman Missal (Third Class) and the modern calendar (optional memorial).
Who was Saint Lawrence of Brindisi?
He was a Capuchin friar of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, renowned for his mastery of languages and his deep knowledge of Scripture. A tireless preacher, superior of his order, and envoy in the affairs of the Church, he is honoured as a Doctor of the Church.
Why is he called a Doctor of the Church?
In 1959 Pope John XXIII declared Saint Lawrence a Doctor of the Church, giving him the title “Apostolic Doctor” in recognition of the apostolic zeal and the sound, scripturally rich teaching of his many sermons and writings.
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