St. John of Capistrano
The saint that the Church celebrates today is an Italian Franciscan friar, and lawyer. Born in Capistrano, Italy, in 1386, John was born at a very difficult time in European and Church history. One-third of the population and nearly 40 percent of the clergy were wiped out by the bubonic plague. England and France were at war. Italian city-states were constantly in conflict. There was, without question, a spirit of gloom that dominated European culture.
As a student, he studied both civil and canon law at the University of Perugia, which is in central Italy. He was appointed governor and magistrate of Perugia at age 26. During local political conflicts, John was captured and imprisoned wherein he resolved to change his way of life completely.
John decided to enter the Franciscan novitiate at age 30 and was ordained a priest four years later. His preaching attracted great crowds of people when there was a time of religious apathy and confusion. He traveled across Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia.
During the early to mid-15th century, the Franciscan Order itself was in turmoil over the interpretation and observance of the rule of St. Francis. John promoted a strict observance of St. Francis’ original rule. He also promoted the Holy Name of Jesus (IHS). Additionally, John worked to resolve doctrinal disputes. He countered heresies and worked to negotiate brief reunions with Eastern Churches.
In 1453, Pope Callixtus III commissioned a crusade against the Ottoman Empire and the invading Turks. At age 70, John of Capistrano rallied an army of thousands of crusaders to gain victory in the great battle of Belgrade against the Turks in 1456. John is sometimes called the “grandpa crusader.” Three months later, he contracted the bubonic plague and died shortly after the victory on October 23, 1456 at Illok, Hungary. Hence, the Church celebrates the date of John’s passing as his feast day.
John is recognized as the patron saint of military chaplains, judges, and lawyers. In California, there is a city of San Juan Capistrano and a historic mission named after our saint. In short, it is inspiring to hold up such a beautiful priest who put in the hard work of reform. God gives every age the saint that it needs. He gave the Church a great saint much needed in the 14th and 15th centuries!
~St. John of Capistrano, pray for us!