|
Commemoration Of
† The Feast of Bishop Saint Lorenzo Giustiniani †
Saint Lorenzo Giustiniani adoring the Baby Jesus
by Luca Giordano, 17th century
Musee du Louvre, Paris
Saint Lorenzo Giustiniani (July 1, 1381 – January 8, 1456) is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. He was Bishop and first Patriarch of Venice.
Saint Lorenzo was a member of the well-known Giustiniani family, which includes several saints. The piety of his mother seems to have served as an inspiration for his later life. In 1400, he entered the congregation of the canons of Saint George in Alga. He was admired by his fellows for his poverty, mortification, and fervency of prayer. During this time, the monastery was changed into a congregation of secular canons living in community. After his ordination in 1406, Saint Lorenzo was chosen to be the prior of this community, and shortly thereafter he became the general of that congregation. He gave them their constitution, and was so zealous in spreading it that he was looked upon as the actual founder of the order. About the same time Saint Lorenzo was made by Pope Eugene IV, Bishop of Castello; and his episcopate was marked by considerable activity in church extension and reform. In 1451, Pope Nicholas V united the Diocese of Castello with the Patriarchate of Grado, and the seat of the patriarchate was moved to Venice, making Saint Lorenzo Giustiniani the first Patriarch of Venice, a holy office he held for over four years.
|
