TODAY'S SAINT (John of Capistrano)

JOHN OF CAPISTRANO

Priest

 

 

John was born at Capistano, Italy in 1385, the son of a former German Knight of that city. He studied law at the University of Perugia and practiced as a lawyer in the courts of Naples. King Ladislas of Naples appointed him governor of Perugia.

     During a war with a neighboring town he was betrayed and imprisoned. Upon his release he entered the Franciscan community at Perugia in 1416. He and St. James of the March were fellow students under St. Bernardine of Siena, who inspired him to institute the devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and His Mother. John began his brilliant preaching apostolate while a deacon out Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia preaching penance and establishing numerous communities of Franciscan renewal.

     When Mohammed II was threatening Vienna and Rome, St. John , at the age of seventy, was commissioned by Pope Callistus II to preach and lead a crusade against the invading Turks. Marching at the head of 70,000 Christians, he gained victory in the great battle of Belgrade against the Turks in 1456. Three months later he died at Illok, Hungary.

 

PRAYER

Lord, You raised up St. John to console Your people

in their distress. Grant that we may always be safe

under Your protection and preserve Your Church in

unending peace. Amen.

 

     Feast: October 22

     Patron  of Jurists