Saint John Leonardi

**S. Joannis Leonardi Confessoris** refers to **Saint John Leonardi**, who was an Italian Catholic priest and the founder of the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of Lucca. He was born in 1541 in Diecimo, Lucca, and died on October 9, 1609. His feast day is celebrated on October 9. Saint John Leonardi is known for his dedication to the Christian formation of adolescents and his work in hospitals and prisons. He also played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation movement.

Saint John Leonardi made significant contributions to the Counter-Reformation through various efforts:

1. **Foundation of a Group**: In 1574, he founded a group dedicated to deepening Christian faith and devotion. This foundation was part of the wider movement of the Counter-Reformation¹.

2. **Spreading Devotion**: He worked with this group to spread devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Forty Hours devotion¹.

3. **Frequent Communion**: He emphasized the importance of frequent communion, which was a key aspect of the Counter-Reformation efforts to renew and strengthen the Catholic faith¹.

4. **Combatting Protestantism**: His order, the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God, was originally devoted to combatting Protestantism and promoting the Counter-Reformation³.

5. **Establishment of Propaganda Fide**: He played a significant role in the establishment of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, now known as the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples⁴.

These efforts collectively contributed to the renewal and strengthening of the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation era.

(1) John Leonardi - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Leonardi.
(2) Saint John Leonardi | Founder, Reformer, Educator | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-Leonardi.
(3) St. John Leonardi: The Apostle of Catechism and Founder of Propaganda .... https://thecatholicheroes.com/history-biographies/st-john-leonardi-the-apostle-of-catechism-and-founder-of-propaganda-fide/.
(4) The Catholic Defender: Saint John Leonardi. https://www.deepertruthcatholics.com/single-post/the-catholic-defender-saint-john-leonardi.