St. Lawrence of Brindisi

St. Lawrence of Brindisi (22 July 1559 – 22 July 1619) was born Giulio Cesare Russo at Brindisi in southern Italy and joined the Capuchin Franciscans, taking the name Lawrence. A prodigious linguist, he mastered Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, and several modern languages, reading the Scriptures in their original tongues and even preaching to Jews in Hebrew. He rose to become minister general of the Capuchin Order and one of the great preachers and diplomats of the Catholic Reformation.

He was sent on missions across Europe, founded friaries in Germany and Austria to strengthen the faith, and served as a papal envoy on delicate diplomatic errands. Famously, as chaplain he inspired and helped lead the imperial army — crucifix in hand and mounted at its head — to victory over a far larger Ottoman force at the Battle of Székesfehérvár in 1601. He left a vast body of sermons and biblical and Marian writings. He died in 1619 and was canonized in 1881; in 1959 Pope John XXIII declared him a Doctor of the Church with the title "Apostolic Doctor."