John, who was born in Capistrano, Italy in 1385, lost his father, a French or probably German knight who had settled in Capistrano, when he was quite young. John's mother took care to ensure that he received a good education, and after mastering Latin, he went to Perugia to study both civil and church law. He completed his legal education at the University of Perugia and worked as a lawyer in Naples. At the age of 26, King Ladislas of Naples appointed him Governor of Perugia.
John had strong moral standards throughout his civic career, working to put an end to a conflict between Perugia and the illustrious House of Malatesta in 1416. However, John started to doubt his life's purpose once the nobles locked him up. But once, he saw Saint Francis of Assisi in a dream after which he decided to follow the Franciscans' vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
John entered the Holy Order in October 1416, giving up his possessions and social standing. He discovered a mentor in Saint Bernardine of Siena, who was renowned for his eloquent preaching and a style of prayer that centered on the recitation of Jesus' name. John started preaching as a deacon in 1420 and was ordained as a priest in 1425, following in the footsteps of his instructor in both regards.
Following his ordination, he preached penance while establishing various communities of Franciscan renewal in Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia.
John was effective in defending his master against a charge of heresy leveled against his method of devotion, but he had less success in trying to settle internal strife between the St. Francis followers. John received key assignments from a line of popes, including the task of bringing Eastern and Western Christendom together at the Ecumenical Council of Florence.
John gained success as a speaker in Central Europe, where he fought the Hussites' errors regarding the nature and administration of the Eucharist, and drew enormous crowds during his missionary tours throughout Italy. Pope Nicholas V dispatched John on a trip to gather other European leaders in defense of their country after Constantinople was conquered by Turks in 1453.
Pope Callixtus III, Nicholas' successor, was even more determined to see the Christian world repel the hostile troops. John defended Belgrade alongside renowned General Janos Hunyadi when Sultan Mehmet II tried to expand his territory into Serbia and Hungary. On August 6, 1456, the priest personally led a portion of the army in its illustrious triumph.
Pope Callixtus III, Nicholas' successor, was even more determined to see the Christian world repel the hostile troops. John defended Belgrade alongside renowned General Janos Hunyadi when Sultan Mehmet II tried to expand his territory into Serbia and Hungary. On August 6, 1456, the priest personally led a portion of the army in its illustrious triumph.
Hunyadi, who had been weakened by the campaign against the Turks, was ill and passed away shortly after Belgrade's victory. John lived long enough to deliver the eulogy at Janos Hunyadi's funeral. He passed away from a painful illness three months later on October 23, 1456, in Illok, Hungary. St. John of Capistrano was canonized in 1724.
In a 2002 general audience, St. John Paul II honored St. John of Capistrano, who is revered as a patron saint of military chaplains, for his "glorious evangelical witness" and as a priest who "gave himself with great generosity for the salvation of souls". His feast is celebrated on October 23.
Other Saints of the Day
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Saint Elfleda
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