Early life He was born
Bogdan Ivan Mandić in the coastal town of
Herceg Novi, in the
Bay of Kotor, then in the
Austrian Empire but today part of
Montenegro. He was the twelfth child of Dragica Zarević and Petar Antun Mandić, owner of an
Adriatic fishing fleet, natives of Zakučac (in the hinterland of the city of
Omiš, 28 km from
Split). Bogdan's parents were devout Catholics; father accompanied little Bogdan to church every morning for
Holy Mass, Mandić grew up in the orbit of a community of Capuchin friars based in the
Province of Venice who had served in his town for two centuries, dating from when the area was ruled by the
Republic of Venice. Physically malformed and delicate, he grew to a height of only , with a clumsy walk. He also had a stutter and stomach ailments. Among his various tasks were the teaching of the
seminarians who followed him, as well as the household duties of the house, such as
porter. Common to all his assignments was that of the duty of a confessor at the church which the friars served. This went on until 1906, when he was assigned to the Friary of Santa Croce in Padua. It was there that he would spend the rest of his life.
Death Mandić suffered from
esophagus cancer, which would ultimately lead to his death at age 76. On 30 July 1942, while preparing for
Mass, he collapsed on the floor. He was then brought to his cell, where he was given the
last rites. Friars who had gathered at his bed began singing
Salve Regina and saw that Leopold died as they sang "O clement, O loving, O sweet
Virgin Mary". ==Veneration==