John was born in Italy in 1385 and died at an early age. His father was a French or probably German nobleman who had settled in Capistrano. John's mother made sure he had an education, and after mastering Latin, he studied church law and civil law at Perugia. An exceptional student, he quickly rose to prominence in society and, at the age of 26, was named the city's governor.

Throughout his civic career, John demonstrated a great degree of integrity. In 1416, he worked to put an end to a war that had broken out between Perugia and the powerful House of Malatesta. However, John started to doubt the course of his life after the nobles had him put in jail. After having a dream about Saint Francis of Assisi, he decided to join the Franciscans in embracing chastity, poverty, and obedience.

John entered the religious order in October 1416, giving up his belongings and social standing. Saint Bernardine of Siena, renowned for his audacious sermons and his approach to devotion that centered on calling up Jesus' name, served as his mentor. John started preaching as a deacon in 1420 and received his priestly ordination in 1425, following in the footsteps of his master.

John's attempts to settle internal strife among St. Francis's disciples were less effective, but he was successful in defending his mentor against a charge of heresy against his devotional style. John was tasked by a number of popes with handling significant tasks, such as the Ecumenical Council of Florence's attempt to bring Eastern and Western Christendom together.

John was successful as a speaker in Central Europe, where he refuted the Hussites' mistake about the nature and administration of the Eucharist, and he drew large crowds during his missionary tours throughout Italy. Pope Nicholas V dispatched John on a trip to mobilize other European leaders to defend their territories after Turkish forces overran Constantinople in 1453.

Pope Callixtus III, who succeeded Nicholas, was even more keen to see the Christian world fight back against the invaders. John sided with the renowned general Janos Hunyadi in defending Belgrade against the Sultan Mehmet II's attempts to expand his conquests into Serbia and Hungary. On August 6, 1456, the priest personally commanded a portion of the army in their momentous triumph.

But neither the general nor John would live long after the fight.

Hunyadi, who had been weakened by the campaign against the Turks, fell ill and passed away shortly after the Belgrade victory. John lived to deliver the funeral homily for Janos Hunyadi, but on October 23, 1456, John passed away due to a severe illness. In 1724, St. John of Capistrano was canonized. St. John of Capistrano invoked as a patron of military chaplains.

Other Saints of the Day
St. Leothade
St. Romanus of Rouen
St. Paul Tong Buong
St. Benedict of Sebaste
St. Theodoret of Antioch