St. Leonard was born on December 20, 1676 in Porto Maurizio, Italy. He was given the name Paul Jerome Casanova by his father, Domenico Casanova, a sea captain, and his mother, Anna Maria Benza.
When he was 13, he was placed with his uncle Agostino to study for a career as a physician, but when the boy decided against medicine, his uncle disowned him. He then began to study at the Jesuit College in Rome.
On October 2, 1697, he joined the Franciscans of the Strict Observance and took the name Brother Leonard. He was ordained in Rome in 1703. He taught for a while, and expected to become a missionary in China, but a bleeding ulcer kept him in his native Porto Maurizio for the four years it took for him to recover and regain his strength.
In 1709, St. Leonard of Port Maurice was sent to Florence where he preached in the city and nearby region. A great preacher, he was often invited to visit and preach in other areas. He worked to increase devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, Sacred Heart, Immaculate Conception, and the Stations of the Cross.
One of his accomplishments was to set up the Stations of the Cross in over 500 different places, including the Colosseum. He was sent as a missionary to Corsica by Pope Benedict XIV in 1744 and restored discipline to the holy orders there, but local politics greatly limited his success in preaching.
He returned to Rome exhausted, and died that night on November 26, 1751 at the monastery of Saint Bonaventure in Rome.
From St. Leonard of Port Maurice, a Modern Catholic can find an example of great servitude and spiritual stamina. One may look at how he lived his life with Christian perseverance, always seeking out opportunities to build the Kingdom of God, until his death.
Mtakatifu Leonard alizaliwa Desemba 20, 1676 huko Porto Maurizio, Italia. "Mwanamume huyo aliitwa ""Paul Jerome Casanova"" na baba yake, Domenico Casanova, na mama yake, Anna Maria Benza." Alipokuwa na umri wa miaka 13, aliwekwa na mjomba wake Agostino kujifunza kuwa daktari, lakini alipokataa kuwa daktari, mjomba wake alikataa. Kisha akaanza kusoma katika Chuo cha Wajesuiti huko Roma. Mnamo Oktoba 2, 1697, alijiunga na Franciscans wa Ufuatiliaji Mkali na akachukua jina la Ndugu Leonard. Aliteuliwa kuwa kasisi huko Roma mwaka wa 1703. Alifundisha kwa muda, na alitarajia kuwa mmishonari nchini China, lakini kidonda kilichokuwa kinamwagika kimemfanya abaki katika mji wake wa Porto Maurizio kwa miaka minne ili apate kupona na kupata nguvu tena. Mwaka 1709 Mtakatifu Leonard wa Port Maurice alitumwa Florence, ambako alihubiri katika mji na mkoa wa karibu. Akiwa mhubiri mashuhuri, mara nyingi alialikwa kutembelea na kuhubiri katika maeneo mengine. Alifanya kazi ya kuongeza ujitoaji kwa Sakramenti Takatifu, Moyo Mtakatifu, Uzao Usio na Dhambi, na Vituo vya Msalaba. Miongoni mwa kazi zake kubwa ni kuanzisha vituo vya msalaba katika maeneo zaidi ya 500 tofauti, ikiwa ni pamoja na Colosseum. Alipelekwa Corsica na Papa Benedict XIV mwaka 1744 na kuanzisha upya madaraka ya kanisa la kanisa la Corsica, lakini siasa za eneo hilo zilimzuia sana. Alirudi Roma akiwa amechoka, na akafa usiku huo Novemba 26, 1751 katika makao ya watawa ya Mtakatifu Bonaventura huko Roma. Katika Mtakatifu Leonard wa Port Maurice, Mkatoliki wa kisasa anaweza kupata kielelezo cha utumishi mkubwa na uvumilivu wa kiroho. Tunaweza kuona jinsi alivyoishi maisha yake kwa uvumilivu wa Kikristo, daima akitafuta fursa za kujenga Ufalme wa Mungu, hadi kifo chake.