Weekly Reflection

St Lawrence of Brindisi Feast Day – 21 July

Later this week, we celebrate the feast of St Lawrence of Brindisi.

One of our eight houses to be introduced at the College in 2023 is Lawrence House, named after St Lawrence.

When he was quite young, he joined the Capuchins at Verona, taking the name Lawrence. He pursued higher studies in theology, philosophy, the bible, Greek, Hebrew, and several other languages at the University of Padua.

Lawrence was ordained and began to preach with great effect in Northern Italy. In 1602, he was elected Vicar General of the Capuchins.

He was sent to Spain by the emperor to persuade Philip III to join the Catholic League, and while there, founded a Capuchin house in Madrid. He was then sent as papal nuncio to the court of Maximillian of Bavaria, served as peacemaker in several royal disputes, and in 1618, retired from worldly affairs to the friary at Caserta.

Later Lawrence was sent again to Spain to ask King Philip to recall a Duke to avert an uprising. The trip in the sweltering heat of summer exhausted him, and he died a few days after his meeting with the king on 22 July. His feast day is 21 July.