Saint Lawrence of Brindisi was born in 1559 in southern Italy. As a young boy, he was heavily influenced by local Capuchins and became a friar in their order at age 16. Languages came supernaturally to him as he mastered Syriac, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Italian, German, and French. Because of this, he influenced a breadth of people including; Rabbis, German reformists, and emerging Christians. Steeped in the spirit of Franciscan preaching, he layered practical teachings, a witness to life, upon his mastery of Sacred Scripture and theology. Able to balance Church and State; he was professor of theology, novice master and minister general in his Order as well as an envoy for peace for various diplomatic missions. This theological maturity was captured in his numerous writings and as such Saint Lawrence of Brindisi was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1959 by Pope John XXIII.
Be Holy! 