Today, October 23, is the memorial of Saint John of Capistrano.
John was born at Capistrano, near Aquila, perhaps of a Nordic family that had emigrated to Italy. He studied law at Perugia and eventually became governor there in 1412.
He was jailed when Malatesta di Rimini conquered Perugia. He had a vision in which St. Francis of Assisi invited him to enter the Franciscan Order. John did so, making his religious profession in 1418. His superior was St. Bernardine of Siena. Post-ordination in 1425 John became an active preacher and promoter of the Franciscan reform.
Pope Martin V assigned him to decide on the conflict between the Franciscans and the “Fraticelli.” John was later named apostolic nuncio to Sicily and then papal legate to France. He had been a missionary in Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary, where he preached the Crusade against the Turks.
After the conquest of Constantinople, the Turks attacked the fortress at Belgrade. John managed to gather troops to counter-attack the Turks. John successfully led the troops into battle, thus earning him the title “Soldier Priest.”
John became a victim of the bubonic plague that swept Europe. He died at the age of 70 in 1456, leaving behind 19 volumes of his writings and more than 700 letters.
Beatified in 1650. Canonized in 1690.