Daily Saint

St. John of Capistrano was a Franciscan friar, renowned preacher, reformer, and missionary who devoted his life to renewing the Church during a turbulent period of European history.

Born in 1386 in Capistrano, Italy, John studied law at the University of Perugia and became a successful lawyer and civic official. His life changed dramatically after he was imprisoned during a political conflict. He had a deep conversion while he was imprisoned and dedicated his life to God. After his release, he entered the Franciscan Order.

John became known for his powerful preaching. Traveling extensively through Italy and other parts of Europe, he preached repentance, reconciliation, and fidelity to the Catholic Faith. He also worked for reform within the Franciscan Order, encouraging friars to reclaim the radical spirit of poverty and discipline that their founder, St. Francis of Assisi, lived.

John served as an adviser to several popes and became involved in efforts to address divisions and problems within the Church. He also preached against heresies and defended Catholic teaching during a period of considerable religious and political turmoil.

In 1453, the Ottoman Turks invaded Constantinople, and John became deeply concerned about the threat of further Ottoman expansion into Christian Europe. Pope Callixtus III asked him to preach and encourage a crusade. He traveled throughout Europe, rallying support and eventually joining the Christian forces defending Belgrade in 1456.

The defenders, led militarily by Hungarian commander John Hunyadi, successfully repelled the Ottoman army. John was present during the battle. He encouraged the Christian soldiers and urged them to remain steadfast, earning the title “Soldier Priest.”

He died only a few months later from the bubonic plague, on October 23, 1456, at Ilok in present-day Croatia. Pope Benedict XIII canonized him in 1724.