Saint Leonard of Port Maurice
Saint Leonard of Port Maurice (born December 20, 1676 AD in Porto Maurizio, Liguria, Italy; died November 26, 1751 AD in Rome, Italy) was an Italian Franciscan friar and one of the greatest popular preachers of 18th-century Italy. He is credited with spreading devotion to the Stations of the Cross throughout Italy, erecting over 572 Stations of the Cross in towns and villages across the peninsula. His preaching missions transformed entire communities; he preached in the Colosseum in Rome before immense crowds. He was canonized in 1867 and is the patron of popular missions. His feast day is November 26.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Leonard of Port Maurice
| Saint Leonard of Port Maurice | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 26 |
| Profession | Franciscan friar; priest; preacher; popular missioner |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans); preacher of popular missions; Stations of the Cross; promoter of devotion to the Immaculate Conception |
| Patronage | Popular missions; preachers; Liguria; Porto Maurizio; the Stations of the Cross; Franciscan missionaries; Italy broadly |
| Attributes | Franciscan habit; skull (memento mori); cross (Stations of the Cross); pulpit; the Colosseum |
| Birthplace | Porto Maurizio (modern Imperia), Liguria, Italy |
| Death Place | Rome, Italy (Hospice of San Bonaventura, Palatine Hill) |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; collapsed and died on November 26, 1751, while returning to Rome after a mission; he had pushed himself through illness throughout his final years of preaching |
| Primary Shrine | Church of San Bonaventura al Palatino, Rome — his community and place of death; his relics; a pilgrimage site in Rome associated with his Franciscan community |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); November 26 |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; observed in the Franciscan tradition and in Italy |
Biography
Leonard was born on December 20, 1676, in Porto Maurizio (now Imperia) in Liguria. He entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained a priest. After an early illness that nearly ended his life, he dedicated himself to popular preaching missions.
From around 1709 until his death in 1751 he conducted over 300 missions across central and northern Italy. Each mission lasted several weeks in a given town; he preached daily on sin, death, judgment, and salvation; and before leaving he would erect a permanent set of Stations of the Cross. He persuaded Pope Clement XII to extend the privilege of erecting Stations outside Franciscan churches, making the devotion available everywhere. He eventually erected 572 sets across Italy.
He preached in the Colosseum in Rome at the invitation of Pope Benedict XIV (1749), establishing the Stations there — the direct ancestor of the Good Friday papal Stations tradition that continues today.
He was sent to Corsica in 1744 on a political-religious peace mission, which failed due to local resistance and broke his health. He continued preaching despite illness for seven more years. He died on November 26, 1751, the day after returning from his last mission.
Pope Pius IX canonized him in 1867.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Porto Maurizio (modern Imperia), Liguria, Italy
Death location: Rome, Italy (Hospice of San Bonaventura, Palatine Hill)
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Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Leonard of Port Maurice have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Nov.26 — The Forgotten Fire of Saint Leonard of Port Maurice: The Preacher Who Revived the Cross | 15–30 minutes | Biographies of the Saints |
| November 26 Saint Leonard of Port Maurice | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| St. Leonard of Port Maurice | 5–15 minutes | Daily Lives of Franciscan Saints |
| Nov 26 - St. Leonard of Port Maurice - Franciscan Saint of the Day | 5–15 minutes | Franciscan Media |
| The Story of St. Leonard of Port Maurice || Feast Day : November 26 | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| St. Leonard of Port Maurice | 5–15 minutes | Radio Immaculata |
| Saint Leonard of Port Maurice - November 26th | Under 5 minutes | Saint of the Day |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Church of San Bonaventura al Palatino, Rome — his community and relics.
- The Colosseum, Rome — Stations he established; Good Friday papal Stations tradition continues here.
Feast day
November 26
Veneration
Saint Leonard of Port Maurice is the patron of popular missions and is venerated as the apostle of the Stations of the Cross throughout Italy. He was canonized in 1867.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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