Lawrence of Brindisi

Lawrence of Brindisi, also Lorenzo of Brindisi; actually Giulio Cesare Russo ( born July 22, 1559 Brindisi; † July 22, 1619 in Lisbon ) was an Italian theologian. In the Catholic Church he is venerated as a saint and Doctor of the Church.

Life

After the early death of his parents Giulio Cesare joined initially as Oblat to the Friars Minor Conventual, but then as Fra Lorenzo ( "Brother Lawrence "), the Capuchin Order in Verona. Until about 1583 he studied theology and philosophy at the University of Padua and then at the studio Teologico Laurentianum in Venice. He spoke six languages ​​fluently and was in his own words in a position to " write down the entire Bible from memory ."

In 1583 he started work as a teacher and preacher in the Venetian Province of the Capuchins. He soon made ​​a name for himself as eloquent preacher, in which especially the " Word of God " is (in the form of the Bible) in the center. Many of his sermons and interpretations have been preserved in written form, including a highly acclaimed interpretation of Genesis.

From 1590 he has been the provincial various Provinces. In 1599 he was sent by Pope Clement VIII as representative of the Counter-Reformation in German-speaking north. Among other things, it should be based on a proposal of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague a monastery. Because of the prevailing plague but he renounced it, and turned instead to Vienna, where he was joyfully received, and six monks left behind as the initial cast for a monastery. In 1601 he was at the battle of the imperial troops against the Turks and to present his popular major role in the victory at White Castle (October 14 ) have had.

After returning to Italy Lorenzo was the Capuchins from 1602 to 1605 before General. Later he worked as a peace broker in Southern and Western Europe on the go, such as 1616/17 between Spain and Savoy. On one of these trips, he died on his 60th birthday in 1619 in Lisbon and was buried in the paupers' cemetery in the northern Spanish Villafranca del Bierzo.

Lorenzo of Brindisi in 1881, canonised and appointed on March 19, 1959, Doctor of the Church, where he was nicknamed Doctor apostolicus. Lawrence is revered as the patron saint of librarians. Feast day is July 21.