359
LOBXHZO
fa BwUtiai&n MaaoMins (London, before 1904); Vbnturi.
Staria dMatU UiManaiY (Milan, 1907).
Louis Gillet.
Loranio d* Brinditi, Saint, b. at Brindisi in 1560; d. at Lisbon on 22 July, 1619. In baptism he reoeived the names of Julius Csesar. Gughelmo de Rossi— or Gughelmo Russi, according to a contempo- imry writer — ^was his father's name; his mother was E^isabetta Masella. £k>th were excellent Christians. Of a precocious piety, Lorenzo gave early evidence of a religious vocation. The Conventuals of Brindisi were intrusted with his education. EUs progress in his studies was very rapid, and, when barely six, he had already given indication of his future success in ora- tory. Consequently, he was always the one chosen to address, in accordance with the Italian custom, a short sermon to his compatriots on the Infant Jesus during the Christmas festi\ntics. When he was twelve years of age his father died. He then pursued his studies at Venice with the clerics of St. Mark's and under the supervision of one of his uncles. In 1575 he was reoeivea into the Order of Capuchins under the name of Brother Lorenzo, and, after his profession, made his philosophical ana theological studies at the University of Padua. Owing to his wonderful mem- ory he mastered not only the principal European languages! but also most of the ^mitic toneues. It was said be knew the entire original text of the Bible. Such a knowledge, in the eyes of many, could be ac- counted for only oy supernatural assistance, and, dur- ing; the process of beatification, the examiners of the aamt's writings rendered the following judgment: ^'Vere inter sanotos Ecclesis doctorcs adnumerari potMt."
Such unusual talents, added to a rare virtue, fitted Brother Lorenzo for the most diverse missions. When still a deacon he preached the Lenten sermons in Venice, and his success was so great that he was called successively to all the principal cities of the peninsula. Subsequently, thanks to his numerous journeys, he was enabled to evangelize at different periods most of the countries of Europe. The sermons he left fill no leas than eight folio volumes. He ad opted t he met hod of preachii^ in favour with the great Franciscan mis- aionarieSi or rather with apostolic workers of all times, who, aiming primarily to reach men's hearts and con- vert them, always adapt their style of discourse to the spiritual needs of their hearera. Brother Lorenzo held successively all the offices of his order. From 1596 to 1002 he had, as general definitor, to fix his residence in Rome. Clement V III assigned him the task of instruct- ing tlML.Jews; thanks to his knowledge of Hebrew and his powerful reasoning, he brought a great num- ber of tnem to reco^ize the truth of the Christian religion. His saintlmess, combined with his great tdndliness, completed the preparing of the way for the grace of converaion. His success in Rome caused him to be called to several other cities, where he also bap- tized numerous Jews. At the same time he was com- missioned to establish houses of his order in Germany and Austria. Amid the great difficulties created by the heretics he founded the convents of Vienna, Prague, and Graz, the nuclei of three provinces. At the chapter of 1602 he was elected vicar-general. (At that time the Order of Capuchins, which had broken away from the Observants in 152S and had an inde- pendent constitution, gave its first superior the title of viear-geneTal only. It was not until 1618 that Pope Paiu V changed it to that of minister general.) The very year of his election the new superior began the visitation of the provinces. Milan, Paris, Mar- ■eflles, Spain, received him in turn. As his coming was preceded by a great reputation for holiness, the peopW flocked to hear him preach and to receive his blessing. His administration, characterized by wise and fatherly tenderness, was of great benefit
to the order. At the Chapter of 1605 he refused to
undertake for a second term the government of his
brethren, but imtil his death he was the best adviser
of his successors.
It was on the occasion of the foundation of the con- vent of Prague (1601) that St. Lorenzo was named chaplain of the Imperial army, then about to march agamst the Turks. The victory of Lepanto (1571) mid only temporarily checked the Mussulman inva- sion, and several battles were still necessary to secure the final triumph of the Christian armies. 9Elohammed III had, since his accession (1595), conquered a large part of Hungary. The emperor, determined to pre- vent a further advance, sent Lorenzo of Brindisi as deputy to the German princes to obtain their co- operation. They responded to his appeal, and moreover the Duke of Mercceur, Governor of Brittany, Joined the imperial army, of which he received the effective command. The attack on Allie-Royal (now Stuhl- weissenburg) was then contemplated. To pit 18,000 men against 80,000 Turks was a daring undertaking and the generals, hesitating to attempt it, appealed to Lorenzo for advice. Holding liimself responsible for victory, he communicated to the entire army in a glowing speech the ardour and confidence with which he was himself animated. As his feebleness prevented him from marching, he mounted on horseback and, crucifix in hand, took the lead of the army, which he drew irresistibly after him. Three other Capuchins were also in the ranks of the army. Although the most exposed to danger, Lorenzo was not wounded, which was universally regarde<i as due to a miracu- lous protection. The city was finally taken, and the Turks lost 30,000 men. As however they still ex- ceeded in numbers the Christian army, they formed their lines anew, and a few days later another battle was fought. It was always the chaplain who was at the head of the army. " l^'on^'ard I *' he cried, showing them the crucifix, " Victory is ours ". The Turks were again defeated, and the honour of this double victory was attributed by the general and the entire army to Lorenzo.
Having resigned his office of vicar-gencral in 1605, he was sent by the pone to evangelize Germany. He here confirmed the faith of the Catliolics, brought back a great number to the practice of virtue, and con- verted many heretics. In controversies his vast learning always gave him the advantage, and, once he had won the minds of his hearors, his saintlincss and numerous miracles completed their conversion. To protect the Faith more otficacioiisly in their states, the Catholic princes of Genuany formed the alliance called the '*Catnolic league". Emjxjror Rudolph sent Lor- enzo to Philip III of Spain to jwrsiiaile him to join the League. Having dischargerl this mission successfully, the saintly ambassador receive<l a double mandate by virtue of which he was to represent the inter- ests of the pope and of Ma«lri(l at the court of Maxi- milian of Bavaria, head of the League. He was thus, much against his wislies, coini)elled to settle in Mu- nich near Maximilian. Besides lx*ing nuncio and am- bassador, Lon.»nzo Wiis also commissarv general of his order for the provinces of Tyrol and havaria, and spiritual director of the Bavarian army. lie was also cliosen as arbitrator in the disi)uto which arose be- tween the princes, and it w:l'< in fulfilment of this role that, at the request f)f the emperor, he rCvStorcd har- mony between the Duke of Mantua and a German nobleman. In addition to all these occupations he undertook, with the as^^sistance of several Capuchins, a missionary campaign throughout Germany, ana for eight months travelled in Bavaria, Saxony, and the Palatinate.
Amid so many various undertakings Lorenzo found time for the practices of personal sanctification. And it is perhaps the greatest marvel of his life to have combined with duties so manifold on unusually intense
