Lorenzo Giustiniani
Encyclopedia
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
.
He 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 St. 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, Lawrence 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 he 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 Giustiniani the first Patriarch of Venice, a post that he held for over four years.
He died on January 8, 1456, and was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII
(1689–1691). His works, consisting of sermon
s, letters and ascetic treatises, have been frequently reprinted.
Pope Innocent XII
(1691–1700) inserted his feast day in the Roman Calendar
for celebration on September 5, the anniversary of his elevation to the episcopate. Because of his limited importance worldwide, his liturgical celebration is no longer included among those to be commemorated universally, wherever the Roman Rite
is celebrated. In addition, his feast was moved to January 8, the day of his death.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He was Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and first Patriarch of Venice
Patriarch of Venice
The Patriarch of Venice is the ordinary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. The bishop is one of the few Patriarchs in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church...
.
He was a member of the well-known Giustiniani
Giustiniani
Giustiniani is the name of a prominent Italian family which originally belonged to Venice, but also established itself subsequently in Genoa, and at various times had representatives in Naples, Corsica and in the islands of the Archipelago, where they had been the last Genoese rulers of the Aegean...
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 St. 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, Lawrence 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 he was made by Pope Eugene IV
Pope Eugene IV
Pope Eugene IV , born Gabriele Condulmer, was pope from March 3, 1431, to his death.-Biography:He was born in Venice to a rich merchant family, a Correr on his mother's side. Condulmer entered the Order of Saint Augustine at the monastery of St. George in his native city...
, Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Castello
Castello, Venice
Castello is the largest of the six sestieri of Venice, Italy. The district grew up from the thirteenth century around a naval dockyard on what was originally the Isole Gemini, although there had been small settlements of the islands of San Pietro di Castello , also called Isola d'Olivolo, since at...
; and his episcopate was marked by considerable activity in church extension and reform. In 1451, Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V , born Tommaso Parentucelli, was Pope from March 6, 1447 to his death in 1455.-Biography:He was born at Sarzana, Liguria, where his father was a physician...
united the Diocese of Castello with the Patriarchate of Grado
Grado, Italy
Grado is a town and comune in the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located on a peninsula of the Adriatic Sea between Venice and Trieste....
, and the seat of the patriarchate was moved to Venice, making Giustiniani the first Patriarch of Venice, a post that he held for over four years.
Veneration
Pope Alexander VIII
Pope Alexander VIII , born Pietro Vito Ottoboni, was Pope from 1689 to 1691.-Early life:Pietro Ottoboni was born of a noble Venetian family, and was the son of Marco Ottoboni, chancellor of the Republic of Venice...
(1689–1691). His works, consisting of sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
s, letters and ascetic treatises, have been frequently reprinted.
Pope Innocent XII
Pope Innocent XII
Pope Innocent XII , born Antonio Pignatelli, was Pope from 1691 to 1700.-Biography:He was born in Spinazzola to one of the most aristocratic families of the Kingdom of Naples, which included many Viceroys, and ministers to the crown, and was educated at the Jesuit college in Rome.In his twentieth...
(1691–1700) inserted his feast day in the Roman Calendar
Roman Catholic calendar of saints
The General Roman Calendar indicates the days of the year to which are assigned the liturgical celebrations of saints and of the mysteries of the Lord that are to be observed wherever the Roman Rite is used...
for celebration on September 5, the anniversary of his elevation to the episcopate. Because of his limited importance worldwide, his liturgical celebration is no longer included among those to be commemorated universally, wherever the Roman Rite
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
is celebrated. In addition, his feast was moved to January 8, the day of his death.
External links
- Lawrence Justinian at the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
San Lorenzo Giustiniani