St John leonardi

     There are so many Saints we can pray to. An Infinite number of friends, who await our asking for their friendship and their intercession. Heaven is packed with mansions, with all of them, and one waiting in particular for us also. For any or every need we could possibly think of, there is a Saint to ask our beloved God to help us. So many for our youth. One, such as, St John Leonardi. He helped young men in their quest for the priesthood. Having a vocation to the Holy life of religious or priesthood, needs good mentors and this Saint was one of that kind. 

     St John Leonardi came from a large family of seven children and humble parents. He was born in 1541, in Diecimo, the Republic of Lucca, in the Tuscany region of Italy. He first trained as a pharmacist but felt a strong calling to the priesthood, so began his study of Theology. After his ordination, he dedicated himself to ministering to the sick and the poor and to help form young men to be priests. In 1574, he founded the "Clerks Regular of the Mother of God", a new congregation of secular priests, dedicated to the faiths revival during the Counter-Reformation, which is the reform and revival in the 16th and 17th centuries, that aimed to strengthen its authority and combat the Protestant Reformation, by reaffirming its doctrines, improving its clergy and establishing new orders like the Jesuits, and sending missionaries to expand its global reach. St John Leonardi, was extremely instrumental in this new reform, with one of his main enforcements being to spread the belief of the "Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist". His congregation was dedicated to increasing devotion to our beloved Blessed Virgin Mary and the Eucharist, and education of the clergy. Meeting political opposition in Lucca, he was forced to spend much of his life outside the city. Saint Philip Neri, another great Saint, worked closely with John and supported him with reforming monastic orders. 

     St John Leonardi died on October 9th, 1609, at the age of 68, from the plague, while caring for sick victims during an epidemic. He is Patron Saint of pharmacists and young men studying for seminary. He has produced many miracles through his intercession. 

     Let us pray to Saint John Leonardi this day, for direction to be in the minds and hearts of all of our youth. Praying that their direction towards Heaven will be stabilized through knowledge of great Saints like Saint John Leonardi. 

     St John Leonardi, intercede for us!