Homily – October 23, 2009 – St. John of Capistrano

+ St. John of Capistrano was a renowned Franciscan preacher who is the patron saint of military chaplains and jurists. Born at Capistrano in 1386 in the Abruzzi region of Italy, he studied law at Perugia, married, and became governor of Perugia in 1412. He was imprisoned for a time during a civil war and claimed to have had a vision of St. Francis that generated a spiritual conversion. Upon his release, he was determined to become a religious. He separated from his wife, by mutual consent, joined the Franciscans in 1415, and was professed the following year after obtaining a dispensation from the Church. He was ordained a priest four years later, having studied theology under St. Bernardine of Siena, one of the greatest preachers of his time. John himself became a successful preacher, attracting large crowds using the same techniques as Bernardine. In fact he even defended his former teacher against heresy charges in the presence of Pope Martin V. John was involved for several years in efforts to reform, reorganize and unify the Franciscan Observant friars. He achieved limited success. John was given several formidable assignments from the Holy See against heretics and infidels. In the field, John succumbed to illness brought on by war. He died October 23, 1456, and was canonized in 1690.

What was John's inspiration during his ministry was the truth of the matter that those who live in Christ are entirely new creations. Once the waters of baptism are poured – and the baptized tap into the reservoir of God's graces flowing from the Heart of his Crucified Son – then nothing is the same. And from that point on we all become ambassadors of Christ – God appealing through us to be reconciled – to be made anew – to be alive in Christ Jesus. This was the message of John of Capistrano's preaching – this is what he defended against the heretics and infidels, this is what kept him on the road to his own eternal salvation.

In the gospel passage Jesus tells his disciples that his followers would not have it easy – that they would be inconvenienced – they would not be able to set their sights on "ordinary business" in life – but rather the "extraordinary" – the focused, inspired and God-fortified business of bringing self and others to God for eternal life! This is quite the task – but those who dedicate themselves to it, like John of Capistrano, like any and all of us, with God's help, can make strides today!

The Lord says: I am the light of the world; let us live this day entirely in his light and we shall be safe, we shall be cared for, we shall be on the right path!