JULY 30, 2014 = FEAST OF ST. LEOPOLD MANDIC, PRIEST BOGDAN MANDIC, the last of twelve children was born at Castelnovo, in Dalmacia, on May 12, 1866. A very frail young man, he was given over to much silent prayer at a very early age. It is said he was a lad of angelic purity. On November 16, 1882, Bogdan entered the the Capuchin seminary in Uldine. He studied hard and advanced rapidly in the way of perfect ion. On April 20,1884, Bogdan entered the Capuchin novitiate at Bassaoso del Groppa and took the namebrohe Leopold. Later he studied philosophy at Padua and theology in Venice. He was ordained on September 20,1890. Leopold labored in Capucin convents for nineteen years before being sent to Padua, where he was to remain until his death except for one year spent in a prison camp during World War I for refusing to renounce his Croat na- tionality. The major portion of his life at Padua was spent in the confessional, some times more than twelve hours a day. The zealous priest froze there in winter and sweltered in the heat of summer. Moreover, he was afflicted with terrible arthritis. This was his apostolate for forty years. People of all ages and ranks came to him. Many were converted and others sent on the road to perfection. On the last day of his life, July 30,1942, Leopold rose at 5:30 a.m. and spent an hour in prayer. Then while vesting to celebrate Mass,he collapsed. A few hours later, he passed away reciting the Hail Hôly Queen. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1983. REFLECTION : St. Leopold Mandic from his earliest years was attracted to prayer. Although he held many offices during the first nineteen years of his ministry as Capuchin priest, he always remained faithful to solicitude and prayer. St. Leopolds apostolate in the confessional at Paduà exacted much physical suffering, but his gentleness, patience and kindness led many back to God. PRAYER : Loving God, You call us to life of perfection, yet we fall into sin. You have given us the promise of forgiveness through confession. Through the example and intercession of Your Priest St. Leopold, may we turn to You in gentleness and kindness, always ready to forgive those who offend us. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 06:17:35 +0000
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