LEONIDAS
179
UBOMTIUB
Rifonnella, S. Bonaventura on the Palatine at Rome.
After his ordination he remained there as lector (pro-
feasor), and expected to be sent on the Chinese mis-
sions. But he was soon afterwards seized with severe
gastric haemorrhage, and became so ill that he was
sent to his native climate of Porto Maurizio, where
there was a monastery of the Franciscan Observants
(1704). After four years he was restored to health,
and began to preach in Porto Maurizio and the vicin-
ity. When Cosimo III de' Medici lianded over the
monastery del Monte (that on San Miniato near
Florence, also called Monte alle Croci) to the mem-
bers of the Riformella, St. Leonard was sent hither
under the auspices and by desire of Cosimo III, and
began shortly to give missions to the people in Tus-
cany, which were marked by many extraordinary
conversions and great results. Ilis colleagues and he
always practised the greatest austerities and most
severe penances during these missions. In 1710 he
founded the monastery of Incontro, on a peak in the
mountains about four and a quarter niih^ from Flor-
ence, whither he and his assistants could retire from
time to time after missions, and devote themselves to
spintual renewal and fresii austerities.
In 1720 he crossed the borders of Tuscany and held his celebrated missions in Central and Southern Italy, enkindling with zeal the entire population. Clement XII and Benedict XIV called him to Rome; the latter especially held him in liigh esteem both as a preacher and as a propagandist, and exacted a promise that he would come to Rome to die. Everywhere the saint made abundant conversions, and was very often obliged both in cities and country districts to preach in the open, as the churches could not contain the thousands who came to listen. He foundecl manv ptous societies and confraternities, and exerted himself especially to spread the devotion of the Stations of the Croas — the propagation of which he greatly furthered with the assistance of his brethren — the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the pcrptitual adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and devotion to the Inmiac- ulate Conception. One of his most ardent desires was to see the last-named defined as a dogma of faith by the Holy See. Besides the celebrated stations in the Colosseum at Rome, St. Leonard erected 571 others in all parts of Italy, while on his different mis- sions. From May to November, 1744, he preached in ^e Island of Corsica, which at that time belonged to the Republic of Genoa and which was frightfully torn by party strife. In November, 1751, when he was preaching to the Bolognese, Benedict XIV called him to Rome, as already there were indications of his rapidly approaching end. The strain of liis mission- ary labours and his mortifications had completely exhausted his body. He arrived on the evening of 26 November, 1751, at liis beloved monastery of S. Bona- ventura on the Palatine, and expired on the same night at eleven o'clock at the age of seventy-five. In the church of this monastery (which must soon make way for the excavations of the ground occupied by the palace of the Csesars) the partly incorrupt body of the saint is kept in the high altar. Pius Vl pronounced his beatification on 19 June, 170(5, and Pius IX his canonization on 29 June, 1867. The Franciscan Order celebrates his feast on 26 November, but out- side this order it is often celebrated on 27 November.
The numerous writings of the saint consist of- ser- mons, letters, ascetic treatises, and books of devotion for the use of the faithful and of priests, especially missionaries. The "Diary" (Diario) of his missions is written by Fra Diego da Firenze. A treasure for asceticism and homiletics, many of his writings have been translated into the most diverse languages and often repubUshed: for example his "Via Sacra spia- nata ed illuminata" (the Way of the Cross simplified and explained), "II Tesoro nascosto" (on the Holy Mass); his celebrated *' Proponimenti ", or resolutions
for the attainment of higher Christian perfection. A
complete edition of his works appearea first at Rome
in tnirteen octavo volumes (1853-84), "Collezione
completa delle opere di B. Leonardo da Porto Mauri-
zio . Then another in five octavo volumes, " Opjerc
complete di S. Leonardo di Porto Maurizio " (Venice,
1868-9). In English, German etc., only single works
have been issued, but a French translation of the
entire set has appeared: "(Euvres completes de S.
Leonard de Port-Maurice" (8 vols., Paris and Tour-
nai, 185S), and "Sermons de S. Leonard de Port
Maurice" (3 vols., Paris).
Summarium processus beatificationis V. S, D. Leon, a P. M. (Rome, 1781); IUpaello da Roma, Vita del P. Leonardo da P. M. (Rome, 1754) ; Jos. i>e Masserano, Vita del B. Leonardo da P. M. (Rome, 179C), written by the postulntor and dedi- cated to the Duke of York, son of James [III] of EDgland; Sau- VATORE DI Ormea, Vita del B. Leonardo da P. M. (Rome, 1851); Heithauhen and Gehlen, Lcben dca ael. Leonhard von P. Af . (Innabruck, 1869) ; L. de CnERANcfe, S. Leonard de Port-Maurice (Paris, 1903) in Xouvelle Bibliothique Franciscaine (Ist seriee), aIII. Chapter xx of this last-mentioned work had already ap- peartMi in Etudes Franciscaines, VIII (Parifl. 1902) , 501-10.
Michael Bihl.
Leonidas (or Leonides), Saint. — ^The Roman Martyrology records several feast days of martyrs of this name in different countries. Under date of 28 January there is a martyr called Leonides, a native of the Thebaid, whose death with several companions is supposed to have occurred during the Diocletian
Krsecution (Acta SS., January, II, 832). Another ^onides appears on 2 September, in a long list of max^ tvrs headed by a St. Diomcdes. Together with a St. Eleutherius, a Lconides is honoured on 8 August. From other sources we know of a St. Leonidas, Bishop of Athens, who lived about the sixth century, and whose feast is celebrated on 15 April (Acta SS. ", April II, 378; "Bibliothecahagiographicapwca", 2 ed.,137). Still another mart>T of the name is honoured on 16 April, with Callistus, Char>'sius, and other companions (Acta SS., April, II, 402). The best known of them all, however, is St. Lconides of Alexandria, father of the great Origcn. From Eusebius (Hist. Eccles., VI, 1, 2) we learn that he died a martyr during the persecution under Scptimius Severus in 202. He was condemned to death by the prefect of Egypt, Lactus, and be- headed. His property was confiscated. Lconides carefully cultivated the brilliant intellect of his son Origen from the latter's childhood, and imparted to him the knowledge of Holy Scripture. The feast of St. Leonidas of Alexandria is celebrated on 22 April.
J. P. KiRSCH.
Leontias, Saint, Bishop of Fr^jus, in Provence, France, b. probably at Nimes, towards the end of the fourth century; d. in his episcopal town in 433, ac- conling to some authorities, though others say 445 or even 448. The date of his episcopal ordination is uncertain, but most likely it took place between the years 400 and 419; indeed the obscurity surrounding his life has not been entirely dissipated by the most conscientious labours of historians. It is however, indisputable that he was a man of eminent sanctity, and nis episcopate was marked with important re- sults, else ne would not have been from an early date associated with the Blessed Virgin as patron of tlie cathedral church of Fr^jus. A tenth-century docu- ment mentions him in this connexion. There is reason to believe that he was a brother of St. Castor, Bishop of Apt, and that consequently like him he was a native of Nimes. At times he nas been mistaken for other persons of the same name, especially for Leon- tius. Bishop of Aries, who lived at the end of the fifth century. But besides the diflference in time, the im- portant events associated with the name of the latter Leontius render the identification impossible. The principal occurrence during the episcopate of Leontius of Frejus was the establishment of the monastery of Lerins at the beginning of the fif^ century. Hienaine
