St Leonard of Port Maurice was also known as Paul Jerome Casanova or San Leonardo da Porto Maurizio.
He was a Franciscan priest, preacher and ascetic writer.
He was born on December 20 1676 in Porto Maurizio, Italy and died on November 26 1751 at the monastery of Saint Bonaventura, Rome, Italy.
We celebrate his feast day on November 26 every year in the Catholic Church.
| St Leonard of Port Maurice Biography | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 20 1676 |
| Place of Birth | Porto Maurizio, Italy |
| Profession | Franciscan priest |
| Place of Work | Italy |
| Date of Death | November 26 1751 |
| Place of Death | Rome, Italy |
| Feast Day | November 26 |
| Beatification | Beatified by Pope Pius VI on June 19 1796 |
| Canonization | Canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 19 1796 at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Italy |
| Patron Saint of |
|
St Leonard of Port Maurice’s Life History
St. Leonard of Port Maurice, originally named Paul Jerome Casanova, was born on December 20 1676 in Porto Maurizio, Italy, situated on the Riviera di Ponente.
He was the son of Domenico Casanova, a sea captain, and Anna Maria Benza. At the age of thirteen, he was placed under the care of his uncle Agostino to prepare for a medical career.
However, young Paul Jerome decided against pursuing medicine, which led to his uncle disowning him.
He attended the Jesuit College in Rome, Italy, and later embraced the Franciscan way of life as a member of the Riformella, a branch of the Franciscans of the Strict Observance.
On October 2 1697, he took the name Brother Leonard. He received ordination in Rome in 1703 and briefly worked as a teacher.
While initially expected to become a missionary in China, an illness, a bleeding ulcer, kept him in his native region for several years while he recovered and regained his strength.
In 1709, he was sent to Florence, Italy, where he gained recognition as a prominent preacher in the city and its surroundings.
He was frequently invited to speak in various areas, and his efforts were devoted to promoting devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacred Heart, the Immaculate Conception, and the Stations of the Cross.
He notably established the Way of the Cross in more than 500 locations, including the Colosseum in Rome.
In 1744, Pope Benedict XIV dispatched him as a missionary to the island of Corsica, where he reinstated discipline among the local clergy and religious orders.
However, his preaching was significantly hindered by local politics. He eventually returned to Rome, exhausted, and spent the remainder of his life there.
St. Leonard died at 11:00 p.m. on November 26 1751 at the monastery of Saint Bonaventura in Rome, Italy.
He was canonized on June 29 1867 by Pope Pius XI.
St. Leonard is the patron of Imperia, Italy, and parish missions, and he is often depicted in association with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Related Links
Other Saints Whose Feast Days are in November
Powered By SEO Experts
Follow @ReadingCatholic
