St. Lawrence of Brindisi

The Apostolic Doctor 1559 - 1619

Dec 25, 2008 Marilynn Hughes

One of the jobs of the 'Doctors of the Church' is to explain to the faithful the place of Jesus and of Mary, His Mother, in Catholic Doctrine.

St. Lawrence of Brindisi held many roles in his life from missionary to diplomat. He was described as a fiery orator and he was known to have performed at least one exorcism which proved completely successful. Miracles followed him wherever he would go, and this along with his uncanny ability to preach the word caused him to be an effective teacher of the faith, thus earning him the title of Apostolic Doctor.

St. Lawrence of Brindisi Born as Caesare de Rossi

Born in Naples as Caesare de Rossi, St. Lawrence of Brindisi was given what was considered at the time to be a Conventional Franciscan education. He had an uncle who also helped in his education. At 16, he joined the Capuchin Order of the Franciscans and then accepted his new name of Lawrence.

St. Lawrence was a Man of Great Learning

He began his preaching career in Northern Italy and quickly developed a reputation for being a powerful and effective homilist. Becoming Definitor General of the Capuchins in Rome, he was sent to combat Lutheranism in Germany. But he founded many friaries, as well, in Prague, Vienna, Gorizia, Bohemia, Austria, Madrid and Styria.

The Warrior Side of St. Lawrence of Brindisi

It might seem a little odd that a Capuchin Franciscan would aid in raising an army, but St. Lawrence of Brindisi did just that. When the Turks threatened to invade all of Hungary, he gathered all the men and actually led them into the battle. The victory was attributed by many to him.

He spent many of his later years as a peacemaker in his new role as Vicar General of the Capuchin Franciscans and Papal Nuncio. One of the many victories attributed to him included convincing French King Philip III to join the Catholic League and avoid another war. He prevented more than one. He averted an uprising in Spain due to his intervention with the Spanish Duke and Envoy.

St. Lawrence was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1959 by Pope John XIII.

St. Lawrence of Brindisi’s Written Works

Opera Omnia (Complete Works Consisting of Eighty Five Letters and St. Lawrence’s Collected Sermons), The Hypotyposis of Martin Luther, The Hypotyposis of Lutheranism, The Hypotyposis of Polycarp Laiser, Lutheranismi Hypotyposis, Mariale (Consisting of 84 Sermons)

The Twenty Ninth Doctor of the Catholic Church

The Thirty First Doctor of the Catholic Church

Sources: The 33 Doctors of the Church – By Fr. Christopher Rengers, A Catholic Dictionary – By William Addis, The Writings of the Early Church Fathers (Thirty Eight Volumes): Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post Nicene – Hendrickson Publishers, Dictionary of Saints – By John J. Delaney, Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics – By Chas S. Clifton, A Scholastic Miscellany: Anselm to Ockham – Edited by Eugene R. Fairweather, A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present – By Bernhard Lohse

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St. Lawrence Brindisi