Fr. Vincent Fitzgerald, O.F.M. - St. John Capistran (St. John of Capistrano)
A short and fast paced biography full of momentous events, miracles, mass conversions, wars, prophecies..
Find it at the very bottom of the index page of
Saints' Books.'Even Hunyady gave up hope when he saw the fortress practically a ruin, for he had little confidence in the unskilled Crusaders being able to repel so formidable an army in a hand to hand engagement. That same night he said to Capistran: "We are conquered, and are at the mercy of the Turks. I have often beaten them, and that, not by the greater number or superiority of the forces at my command, but by perseverance, and by skill in strategy; and I understand all their manoeuvres. But now all my efforts have come to nought. I have no means of attack or defence. I have done all I could, but ray resources are at an end. The defences cannot be made good ; the walls and towers are destroyed; the way for the Turks lies open. Against such a host we are but few ; and our men are untrained, badly armed, poor, weak, and timid. The barons have not come. What more can we do?"
It was the despair of a brave man but an honest soldier : ready to fight till death, but unwilling to encourage hopes which his experience assured him were vain.
Capistran's trust in God was still unshaken, " Fear not," he said, "God is able with a few weak men to overthrow the Turkish power, to defend the city, and put our enemies to shame." But Hunyady was unconvinced. "To-morrow," he said, "the fortress will no longer be ours." The Saint's reply was: "Do not fear. It will be ours indeed! We are fighting in God's cause. We are defending the name of Christ. I am confident God will protect His own."'
- The Life of St. John Capistran
'Now you are made Bishop of Bologna. I congratulate you. But you will go farther; you will be a Cardinal, and afterwards, Pope. . . You are Thomas, indeed, for Thomas was incredulous.'
St. John of Capistrano (to Thomas Parentucelli, later Pope Nicholas V)
'Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with the brightness that comes from the good example of a praiseworthy and blameless life. They must completely remove from their lives the filth and uncleanness of vice. Their upright lives must make them like the salt of the earth for themselves and for the rest of mankind. The brightness of their wisdom must make them like the light of the world that brings light to others. They must learn from their eminent teacher, Jesus Christ, what he declared not only to his apostles and disciples, but also to all the priests and clerics who were to succeed them, when he said, “You are the salt of the earth. But what is salt goes flat? How can you restore its flavor? Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Jesus also said: “You are the light of the world.” Now a light does not illumine itself, but instead it diffuses its rays and shines all around upon everything that comes into its view. So it must be with the glowing lives of upright and holy clerics. By the brightness of their holiness they must bring light and serenity to all who gaze upon them. They have been placed here to care for others. Their own lives should be an example to others, showing how they must live in the house of the Lord.'
St. John of Capistrano
'At that time," i.e. 1416 A.D., 'war had broken out between the Malatesta and the Perugians, and I was sent to arrange terms of peace. But, when I came to a certain tower l [I was taken prisoner and] my feet were fettered in irons of forty-two pounds weight, and no other nourishment was allowed me but bread and water. In this unfortunate situation I began to consider how I could escape death, and calculated the height of the tower. I happened to have a sash which I tore into strips with my teeth for want of a knife; and when I had tied these together and added my hood they were still as high from the ground as St. Christopher's. After fixing this rope to the top of the wall, I began to descend; but the hood broke. I fell to the ground, injured my foot, and could go no further. Moreover the guards were aroused by the irons clashing together. I was captured again and imprisoned in the basement of the tower where the water reached half-way up my legs. I was bound with a chain round my waist so that I was compelled to remain standing, and only a crust of bread was given me with a little water daily.
After three days I fell asleep through weakness. As I slept it seemed to me that a great noise was made, and, awakening, I saw a beam of sunlight illuminating the whole tower. Then, as I raised my head to give thanks to God, I saw a Friar Minor, stigmatized in his feet, who disappeared when I tried to embrace him. Bending back my head I found myself shaven, just as you see me now. knew for certain that this Friar Minor was our Holy Father St. Francis. At last I perceived that it was the will of God that I should leave the world and serve him alone. Therefore I applied at once for my liberation, which I purchased at the price of four hundred ducats.
St. John of Capistrano, of his becoming a Friar Minor.
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