St. Lawrence of Brindisi

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi

Confessor & Doctor of the Church

Giulio Cesare Russo, named after Julius Caesar, was born in the year of Our Lord 1559 in the Kingdom of Naples. Before their early deaths, his devout parents entrusted him to the Franciscans. At the age of sixteen he joined the Capuchins, taking the name Lorenzo, and was ordained about seven years later. Fr. Lawrence spoke multiple languages, miraculously memorized Holy Scripture, and excelled at preaching all over Europe, especially to the Jews. As chaplain of the army of the Holy Roman Empire, Fr. Lawrence rallied a vastly outnumbered force at the Siege of Székesfehérvár in Hungary. Armed only with a crucifix, he led the army in a stunning rout of the Turks. Fr. Lawrence went on to preach against the Protestant heresies in Germany, and also served a term as head of his order. Fr. Lawrence often experienced pious ecstasies while saying Holy Mass, and he was particularly devoted to the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Worn out by his ceaseless work and profound asceticism, Fr. Lawrence died in Lisbon after a successful mission to Spain, in the year of Our Lord 1619. He was declared “Apostolic Doctor” by Pope St. John XXIII.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for July 21st

AT Rome, the holy virgin Praxedes, who was brought up in all chastity and in the knowledge of the divine law. Assiduously attending to watching, prayer and fasting, she rested in Christ, and was buried near her sister Pudentiana, on the Salarian road.

At Babylon, the holy prophet Daniel.

At Marseilles, the birthday of St. Victor, a soldier. Because he refused to serve in the army and sacrifice to idols, he was thrust into prison, where he was visited by an angel, then subjected to various torments, and finally being crushed under a millstone, he ended his martyrdom. With him also suffered three soldiers, Alexander, Felician, and Longinus.

At Troyes, St. Julia, virgin and martyr.

In the same place, the martyrdom of the saints Claudius, Justus, Jucundinus, and five companions, in the time of the emperor Aurelian.

At Comana, in Armenia, the holy bishop and martyr Zoticus, who was crowned under Severus.

At Strasburg, St. Arbogastus, a bishop, renowned for miracles.

In Syria, the holy monk John, a companion of St. Simeon.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.