Andrew was originally a lawyer named Lorenzo, but he perjured himself during a courtroom argument on behalf of a friend. The experience of lying under oath shook him up so much that he quit the profession and entered the clery. He was assigned the task of bringing order to a particularly disreputable convent in Naples. He laid down the law, but some of the peddlers of vice resented the loss of a lucrative market and planned to murder him. He was guided away before the attack went down -- led to a house run by the Theatines, an order of priests trying to contain the Protestant Reformation by reforming the Church themselves. The Theatines were noted for all sorts of good works, and impressed by them, Lorenzo took the name Andrew and joined them.
He continued to be a leader in the Italian church, founding Theatine communities, preaching, writing, and advising. At the end of his life, he suffered a stroke. After death, his blood liquified and bubbled, leading folks to wonder if he was just catatonic and buried alive. Those peddlers of vice will have their revenge, no matter how long it takes.
No comments:
Post a Comment