Leopold Mandić

Leopold Mandic ( born May 12, 1866 in Castelnuovo di Cattaro ( Herceg Novi ), Montenegro, † 30 July 1942 in Padua, Italy) was Capuchins and is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.

Leopold Mandic is the second Croat who was canonized in the Catholic Church. He was a priest of the Capuchin Order and a very popular confessor. He dedicated his pastoral work particularly Christian Unity.

Life

Bogdan Mandic was born in Castelnuovo di Cattaro ( Herceg Novi ) in present-day Montenegro. His parents came from the place Zakučac in Omis near Split. He was the youngest of twelve children. His parents were considered to be very religious and had a formative influence on him. His father often took him to Mass and Communion, which was considered at that time as very unusual.

The environment of the family was very influenced by the orthodoxy. Thus, Mandic was confronted very early on with the separation of Christians. It is reported that he was already in childhood harbored the desire to fix this circumstance.

He was impressed by the selfless work of the Capuchins in his hometown, which were well appreciated by the Orthodox, and saw his missionary quest best at them fulfilled. His parents agreed to his appointment.

At the age of 16, he entered the Franciscan seminary in Udine ( northern Italy). At the time of Dalmatia was canonically with the Patriarchate of Venice. After two years he began his novitiate in Bassano in the Veneto Kaupuzinerprovinz. On 2 May 1884, he was clothed in the habit and called Leopold. On 4 May 1885 he passed the first simple vows. His philosophy He studied in Padua. In 1888 came the solemn vows. Then he started in Venice with his theological studies. He was ordained by Cardinal Domenico Agostini on September 20, 1890 priests.

First, he worked for a short time in the cities of Zara, Koper and Fiume. After that he was sent by his superiors to Padua, where he remained until his death. His pastoral main task he saw in the donation of the sacrament of confession. It is reported that he often spent fifteen hours a day in the confessional. In addition, it should be given to become the graces of the heart and the sight of prophecy. Reports on its stigmata are controversial. He was revered as a saint in his own lifetime.

It is reported that the hl. Leopold had predicted shortly before his death, that the Capuchin monastery in Padua would be destroyed by a bomb attack, what actually happened. But his confessional remained completely healing miraculously. The numerous pilgrims now visit his grave in Padua, also pass this preserved the confessional.

His funeral was held with great sympathy. When they opened his coffin after his death 24 years, they found his body incorrupt before.

By Pope Paul VI. He was beatified on May 2, 1976. The formal canonization was made by John Paul II on 16 October 1983.

The memorial of St. Leopold Mandic is committed in the Croatian church calendar on May 12.

Patron

The Holy Leopold Mandic is patron of numerous Catholic churches and cultural institutions in Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina. In German-speaking countries it is a popular patron

• Croatian Catholic church " Sveti Leopold Mandic " in Friedrichshafen ( Friedrichshafen Dean's Office )
• Croatian Catholic church " Sveti Leopold Mandic " in Mülheim an der Ruhr
• Croatian Catholic church " Sveti Leopold Mandic " in Herrenberg
• HKUD "St. Leopold Mandic " Klagenfurt is a Croatian Cultural Association