| Saint Leopold Mandić | |
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Saint Leopold Bogdan Mandić |
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| Born | May 12, 1866 Herceg Novi, Boka Kotorska |
| Died | July 30, 1942 (aged 76) Padua, Italy |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | May 2, 1976 by Paul VI |
| Canonized | October 16, 1983 by John Paul II |
| Major shrine | Padua, Italy |
| Feast | May 12 |
Saint Leopold Bogdan Mandić was born on May 12, 1866, and died on July 30, 1942. He was an ethnic Croat born in Castelnuovo di Cattaro (today Herceg Novi), in Bocche di Cattaro (Boka Kotorska), then in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, today in Montenegro, and died in Padua, Italy. Physically malformed and delicate, having a height of only 1.35m, with clumsy walk and stuttering, he developed tremendous spiritual strength. His feast is celebrated May 12.
Although he wanted to be a missionary in Eastern Europe, he spent almost all of his adult life in Italy, and lived in Padua from 1906 until the end of his life. He spent also one year in Italian prison during WWI, since he did not want to renounce his Croatian nationality. He also dreamed unceasingly about reuniting the Catholic and Orthodox churches and going to the Orient. He became known as Apostle of Confession and Apostle of Unity. He made a famous prayer that is the forerunner of today's ecumenism.
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Bogdan Mandić was the twelfth child of Dragica Zarević and Petar Antun Mandić, owner of an Adriatic fishing fleet; they came from the village of Zakučac (hinterland of the city of Omiš, 28 km from Split). The origins of his family are noble; they came from Vrhbosna province in Bosnia.
He suffered from disabilities that would plague his speech and stature. The family eventually lost most of its wealth, and became more sympathetic to those who suffered in similar situations. In November 1882 when he was 16, Bogdan went to Udine to enter the seminary of the Venetian Capuchins. Two years later he was put in the Bassano del Grappa friary, where he took the name Leopold. His first profession of vows was made a year later in May and a profession of perpetual vows four years latter in 1888.
On September 20, 1890, Leopold was ordained to the presbyterate at Venice at the age of 24.
Leopold suffered from esophagus cancer, which would ultimately lead to his death at age 76. On July 30, 1942, while preparing for the liturgy, he collapsed on the floor. He was then brought to his cell, where he was given the last rites. Friars that had gathered at his bed began singing the Salve Regina and saw that Leopold died as they sang "O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary."
As a result of the bombing during World War II, the church and part of the friary where Leopold lived were demolished, but Leopold's cell and confessional were left unharmed. Leopold had predicted this before his death, saying, "The church and the friary will be hit by the bombs, but not this little cell. Here God exercised so much mercy for people, it must remain as a monument to God's goodness." Paul VI beatified Leopold on May 2, 1976. He was canonized by John Paul II during the Synod of Bishops on October 16, 1983. Leopold is hailed as the "Apostle of Unity".
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