Leopold Mandić

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saint Leopold Mandić
Saint Leopold Bogdan Mandić
Born	(1866-05-12)May 12, 1866 Herceg Novi, Boka Kotorska
Died	July 30, 1942(1942-07-30) (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	July 30 (celebrated by Franciscans on May 12)

Church of St. Leopold Mandic in Herceg Novi

Saint Leopold Bogdan Mandić was born on May 12, 1866, and died on July 30, 1942. He was an ethnic Croat^[1] 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 1.35 m (4' 5"), with a clumsy walk and afflicted by 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 his adult life in Italy, and lived in Padua from 1906 until his death. He also spent one year in an 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.

Early life

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 assigned to the Bassano del Grappa friary, where he took the name "Leopold". He made his first profession of vows 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.

Death and canonization

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 who 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 General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on October 16, 1983. Leopold is hailed as the "Apostle of Unity".

Quotes

"Some say that I am too good. But if you come and kneel before me, isn't this a sufficient proof that you want to have God's pardon? God's mercy is beyond all expectation."
"Be at peace; place everything on my shoulders. I will take care of it." He once explained, "I give my penitents only small penances because I do the rest myself."
"A priest must die from apostolic hard work; there is no other death worthy of a priest."

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leopold Mandić.

↑ "Veliki svetac i rodoljub, Bogdan Leopold Mandić". hkv.hr (in Croatian). 23 August 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2013. "Tijekom Drugog svjetskog rata proveo je godinu dana u talijanskom zatvoru ne želeći poreći svoju hrvatsku nacionalnost."

(Italian) Sanctuary and St. Leopold Mandić's tomb in Padua, Italy
(Croatian) Biografije svetaca Leopold Bogdan Mandić
Short biography of St. Leopold Mandić
(Croatian) Zakučac proslavio blagdan sv. Leopolda Mandića: Zakučac celebrates the feast day of its saint
(Croatian) Živi' će nam ime makar granu sikli Reportaža Glas Koncila Reportage of Glas koncila
American Catholic article about Mandić

v t e Croatian saints and beatified people

Sainted	Donatus of Zadar Saint Domnius Eleutherius of Parentium Saint Pollio Gaudentius of Ossero Jerome Pope Caius Marko of Križevci Quirinus of Sescia Leopold Mandić Saint Marinus Maurus of Parentium Saint Silvan Nikola Tavelić Saint George of Trogir Saint Vincenca

Beatified	Miroslav Bulešić Drina Martyrs Julijan of Bala Augustin Kažotić Catherine of Bosnia Ozana of Kotor Ivan Merz Gracija of Muo Marija Petković Alojzije Stepinac Jakov of Zadar Oton of Pula

Authority control	WorldCat VIAF: 50021870 LCCN: n82114184 GND: 118809237

Persondata
Name	Mandic, Leopold
Alternative names	Mandic, Bogdan (birthname)
Short description	Catholic priest; saint
Date of birth	May 12, 1866
Place of birth	Herceg Novi, Boka Kotorska
Date of death	June 30, 1942
Place of death	Padua, Italy

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.