Saint John of Capistrano
John of Capistrano was born on June 24, 1386 in Capestrano, Italy. A brilliant lawyer at the age of 26, he subsequently took on high responsibilities, including that of governor of Perugia.
He was an advisor to the king of Napes and was taken prisoner during the war. This time would allow him to reflect more on life (we can draw a parallel with the story of Ignatius of Loyola), to convert, and to arrive at the postulate that money was not so important. With his wife dead, Jean de Capistran had only the goal of consecrating his life to holiness. It was in this spirit that he decided to enter the Franciscan order (Order of Friars Minor) in 1416, after having sold his property. A year later, he became a priest. A theologian, a man of prayer and a great preacher, he traveled throughout the provinces of Italy and part of Central Europe.
He died in Hungary in 1456 at the age of 70. He was canonized in 1690 by Alexander VIII. He is celebrated every year by the Church on October 23. So, let's meet Saint Jean of Capistrano: his life, his influence and what he can still tell us today.
At the end of this article on John of Capistrano, we also invite you to discover other figures of holiness in the Guide to Saints on Hozana.
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What can we learn from Saint John of Capistrano?
Saint John of Capistrano, a renowned preacher
Trained by Saint Bernardine of Siena, John of Capistrano asserted himself as a renowned preacher. Close to the popes of the time, he began his preaching in Germany, in particular for the conversion of the Hussites. More than 4000 people were converted. He then went on to preach in the rest of Europe, especially in Austria, Hungary and Poland. In particular, he preached devotion to the name of Jesus and had to work hard against witchcraft. His preaching produced many conversions, and was often interrupted by the tears of the crowd. John of Capistrano would play an important role in the annihilation and conversion of the Fraticelli, a sect-like movement of Franciscans whose heresies were condemned by Pope Boniface VIII in 1296. In addition to his preaching, his life was dedication: he slept and ate little and had a concern for charity. For all these reasons, he was nicknamed “Saint Preacher.”
Saint John of Capistrano, Apostle of “United Europe” and Patron of Military Chaplains
In 1453, Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, fell to Sultan Mehmet II (or Mohammed II). Following the advance of Islam and the Turks, Christianity became threatened. Sensitive to this, and sent by Pope Calixtus III, who summoned him to preach a crusade, John of Capistrano travelled to Central Europe in order to recruit men. It was in Hungary, a country particularly threatened by the Turks, that he could count on the support of an army of ten thousand men. John and his huge army were victorious on July 14, 1458 in Belgrade, where Mohammed II had established the bulk of his river fleet. Exhausted, Jean died on his return, after contracting the plague. In 1984, Pope John Paul II made John of Capistrano the patron saint of military chaplains of armies around the world.
Below is the prayer of the military chaplains to their patron saint:
“O glorious Saint John, man of God and of the Church, animators of daring troops, we Chaplains of the Armed Forces of Land, Sky and Sea, we pray to you with the same ardor as you had in praying to the Lord to lead your men to the safeguard of Christian civilization.
We too, out of sacred duty to God and to the Fatherland, are called to support the new generations in the search for and defense of the supreme values of justice and peace.
Teach us to love our soldiers as you loved them, to feel them more than brothers, to understand them in their human and spiritual aspirations.
Help us to bring to the heart of our units the same passion of faith and the integrity of our testimony.
Our men-in-arms ask us for this, and we owe it to them;
That is why we will resort to you, o our heavenly patron; o seraphic apostle, we implore you, and through your intercession, we hope for the Gifts of the Spirit. Amen.”
What can Saint John of Capistrano bring us today?
Perseverance
John of Capistrano’s life is really the story of a persevering man. His history with the Franciscans was far from simple. From the beginning, he was dismissed from the novitiate because he was deemed unable to hold a job in religion. In addition, he would remain at the door of the convent for two years before being welcomed. Finally, in the face of his perseverance, his superiors let him enter the order. And he even became a reformer of his order, through the drafting of the Constitutions of the “observant” branch of the Order, and through his other writings.
Become Jesus' friend
Becoming Jesus' friend is what John of Capistrano can help us with. He really lived on Jesus. His whole life was preaching and prayer, through continual prayer. He was in ecstasy before the Crucifix, the Tabernacle, and the image of Mary. Friend of Jesus, John said “I am fortunate to be called John to be like my patron saint the son of the Virgin Mary and the friend of Jesus.” John would pronounce “Jesus” one last time just before death.
To deepen your knowledge of Saint John of Capistrano
Works
Below is a book that can allow you to deepen your knowledge:
· Léon de Kerval, Saint John of Capistrano: his century and his influence
Praying with your knowledge of Saint John of Capistrano
“Those who are called to the table of the Lord must shine with an exemplary and praiseworthy life, free from all the impurity of vices. They must live as the salt of the earth for themselves and for others, illuminating others with luminous wisdom, as the light of the world. ”
(Saint John of Capistrano – Mirror of Clerics)
Prayer of John of Capistrano “Come to our aid, Lord, do not delay:”
“O Christ, glory of the holy Angels, God of the gods, creator of the universe, O Christ, our Redeemer, our Father, our guide and our support, show us the light of your radiant truth; make a ray of your dazzling clarity shine in our minds. Lower your eyes, Lord, from the throne of your Supreme Majesty; send your light and your truth; light your divine torch in our minds; pour your love into our hearts; cast your eyes on us and have mercy on us, Lord. Do not despise the moans of your poor; listen to the voice of those who cry out to you. Come to our aid, Lord, do not delay: Forget the crimes of your people; do not abandon, in its despondency and distress, the Church, this bride that you have acquired for yourself by your precious blood; do not let her walk sadly in dark and difficult paths, do not suffer her to unnecessarily embarrass herself with the sordid interests of the earth. Send your Holy Spirit from the high seat of your glory, that he may be with us, that he may dwell in us, that he may dwell, that he may work and act in us, that he may direct and quicken our actions, that he may procure for us a speedy peace, that he may unite us in the sweet concord of charity; and we will be one in you, Lord, as you are yourself one God, one Lord, with the Father and the Holy Spirit with whom you reign in all ages; and you will make us reign also with you, for the praise and glory of your most holy and glorious Name, to God, who merits eternally all honor and who is blessed in the ages of ages. Amen ”
