Born in Brindisi, Italy, in 1559, Lawrence was a Capuchin friar, priest, scholar, preacher, and diplomat. He lived during a time of religious and political conflict in Europe and became known for his remarkable knowledge of Scripture and languages.
The Walking Bible
Father Lawrence knew Scripture remarkably well. He studied the Bible deeply and was said to know much of it by heart.
With that kind of memory, he could probably rewrite a good part of the Bible if all the copies suddenly disappeared.
He was, in a way, a walking library in a brown habit.
Speaking Their Language
Father Lawrence had an unusual command of Hebrew for a Catholic friar of his time.
His knowledge allowed him to study Scripture in its original language and engage with Jewish communities. He was reportedly respected by rabbis for his knowledge of Hebrew and Jewish religious texts.
Sometimes, the shortest distance between two worlds is a shared language.
The Friar on the Battlefield
In 1601, Father Lawrence accompanied Christian forces fighting the Ottoman army at Székesfehérvár.
He was there as a chaplain, not a soldier. Traditional accounts describe him encouraging the troops while holding a crucifix and carrying no weapon.
The Christian forces won the battle.
He returned from the field with no sword to put away.
The Troubleshooter
Popes and rulers sent Father Lawrence across Europe on diplomatic missions and to help settle disputes.
He could have spent his days surrounded by books, but instead found himself crossing borders and dealing with some of the political tensions of his time.
Words were something he knew well.
One Last Mission
People from Naples needed someone to bring their grievances to King Philip III of Spain.
Father Lawrence accepted and traveled to Lisbon, where the king was staying.
He reached Lisbon, but he would not make the journey home.
On July 22, 1619, his 60th birthday, he died there.
Even his final road was taken to help others.
Today, we can communicate faster and farther than ever. Like Saint Lawrence, we can use our words to help rather than harm, and to bring people closer rather than push them apart.
Let’s keep learning the saints’ way—day by day.
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
