St. John of Capistrano

Saint John of Capistrano

Confessor

John was born to a noble family in Capistrano, Italy, in the year of Our Lord 1385, and eventually rose to become governor of Perugia. He served as a peace ambassador during a war between his city and a powerful Italian family, but was imprisoned. While locked away he had a dream in which St. Francis of Assisi told him to enter the Franciscan Order. John had just wed before his imprisonment, but the marriage had not been consummated, and with the lady’s permission John obtained an annulment. He entered the Franciscans in 1416, becoming a priest and studying theology under St. Bernadine of Siena. John preached tirelessly throughout Italy, promoted devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, gained a reputation for healing, and served the papacy in many duties. After the fall of Constantinople to the Muslim Turks, John preached crusade, and under the famed Hungarian crusader John Hunyadi, John of Capistrano led a major portion of the defending Christian army at the Siege of Belgrade in 1456. The ringing of church bells at noon originated as a papally-decreed commemoration of this great victory. John died of a plague outbreak in the camps not long after the battle. He is a patron of jurists and military chaplains, and is also celebrated on October 23rd in the modern calendar.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for March 28th

ST. JOHN of Capistran, confessor, who is mentioned on the 23d of October.

At Caesarea, in Palestine, the birthday of the holy martyrs Priscus, Malchus, and Alexander. In the persecution of Valerian, they were dwelling in the suburbs of Caesarea, but knowing that in the city the heavenly crown of martyrdom was to be gained, and burning with the divine ardor of faith, they go to the judge of their own accord, rebuke him for shedding the blood of the faithful in torrents, and are forthwith condemned to be devoured by beasts for the name of Christ.

At Tarsus, in Cilicia, the holy martyrs Castor and Dorotheus.

In Africa, the holy martyrs Rogatus, Successus, and sixteen others.

At Rome, St. Xystus III, pope and confessor.

At Norcia, the abbot St. Speus, a man of extraordinary patience, whose soul at its departure from this life was seen by all his brethren to ascend to heaven in the shape of a dove.

At Chalons, in France, the demise of St. Gontram, king, who devoted himself to exercises of piety, renounced the pomps of the world, and bestowed his treasures on churches and the poor.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.