St. John of Capistrano, Saint of the day for 23 October

Saint of the day for October 23th
(24 June 1386 - 23 October 1456)

History of San Giovanni da Capistrano

It has been said that Christian saints are the greatest optimists in the world. Not blind to the existence and consequences of evil, they base their trust on the power of Christ's redemption. The power of conversion through Christ extends not only to sinners but also to calamitous events.

Imagine you were born in the 40th century. A third of the population and nearly XNUMX percent of the clergy were wiped out by the bubonic plague. The Western schism divided the Church with two or three pretenders to the Holy See at the same time. England and France were at war. The city-states of Italy were constantly in conflict. No wonder darkness dominated the spirit of culture and times.

John Capistrano was born in 1386. His education was thorough. His talents and success were fantastic. At the age of 26 he was appointed governor of Perugia. Imprisoned after a battle against the Malatesta, he decided to completely change his way of life. At the age of 30 he entered the Franciscan novitiate and four years later was ordained a priest.

John's preaching drew large crowds at a time of religious apathy and confusion. He and 12 Franciscan brothers were received in Central European countries as angels of God. They were instrumental in reviving a dying faith and devotion.

The Franciscan Order itself was in turmoil over the interpretation and observance of the Rule of St. Francis. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Giovanni and his competence in law, the heretics Fraticelli were suppressed and the "Spirituals" were freed from interference in their most rigorous observance.

Giovanni da Capistrano helped to bring about a brief reunion with the Greek and Armenian Churches.

When the Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453, John was commissioned to preach a crusade for the defense of Europe. Getting little response in Bavaria and Austria, he decided to focus his efforts on Hungary. He led the army in Belgrade. Under the great general John Hunyadi, they achieved a landslide victory and the siege of Belgrade was lifted. Exhausted from his superhuman efforts, Capistrano was easy prey for an infection after the battle. He died on October 23, 1456.

Reflection

John Hofer, a biographer of John Capistrano, remembers a Brussels organization named after the saint. Trying to solve the problems of life in a fully Christian spirit, his motto was: "Initiative, Organization, Activity". These three words characterized John's life. He wasn't the one to sit down. His deep Christian optimism prompted him to fight problems at all levels with the confidence generated by a deep faith in Christ.