Homily: July 21 - St. Lawrence of Brindisi, "Apostolic Doctor"

St. Lawrence was born on July 22, and died exactly 60 years later on his birthday in 1619.  A saint’s feast day is normally on the day of their death, but tomorrow, July 22 is the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, so Lawrence’s feast was transferred to today, the 21^st. 

Lawrence entered the Capuchin Franciscans at the age of 16 and was ordained at the age of 23.  He had an outstanding gift of languages.  In addition to his native Italian, he had a complete reading and speaking ability in Latin, Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish and French.  He would go on to use his linguistic skills preaching throughout Europe and bringing many to conversion.

He was a saint who accomplished so many different kinds of duties in his sixty years of life that there is simply no other in the same category. Army chaplain, diplomat & peacemaker, miracle-worker, exorcist, theologian, biblical scholar, linguist, confessor, mystic, and leader of the Counter-Reformation, doctor of the Church.  As vicar general for the Capuchins he combined his brilliance, his great administrative skill, and his great sensitivity and human compassion.   He was a learned student of Scripture, a powerful preacher, and also a writer. He also founded many friaries, in Prague, Vienna, Bohemia, Madrid, and Austria.

A contemporary of his, the Cardinal theologian Cajetan, said that St. Lawrence was “an incarnation of the old apostles, who, speaking to all nations, were understood by all.  He is a living Pentecost.” Saint Pope John XXIII honored this gifted son of St. Francis by proclaiming him a Doctor of the Universal Church with the title “Apostolic Doctor”. 

His effectiveness as a preacher derived from an intense interior life—particularly his great love for the Mass and the Blessed Virgin to whom he attributed his vocation. He would sometimes be so caught up in ecstasy during the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice that he would be weeping with love and adoration.

His constant devotion to Scripture, the Mass, the Blessed Virgin, coupled with great sensitivity to the needs of others, present a lifestyle which appeals to us today—a life of learning, constant charity, and powerful intimacy with God. 

We are stirred by the example of St. Lawrence to seek that intimacy and love of God as well as that fervor in putting our whole life in the service of spreading the Gospel. 

Many of us may be a little late in life to learn a new language or 7 like St. Lawrence for the preaching of the Gospel, but the Holy Spirit will always bring new life, new opportunities for glorifying God if we are open to them.

We pray that we may be filled with the same zeal, and courage, and  develop our gifts for the building up of the Church, for the work of God, for his Glory, and the salvation of souls.