For he chose us in him
before the creation of the world
to be holy and
blameless in his sight. - Eph 1:4
From
the treatise Mirror of the Clergy by St John of Capistrano, but can also be
fittingly applied to the priesthood of believers...
"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 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
Italy ~
1385-1456
Lawyer, governor
Franciscan priest,
preacher, theologian
Taught theology by St.
Bernardine of Siena -
together the two worked to
reform the Franciscan order
Nickname - "soldier
priest"*
*When Mohammed II was threatening Vienna and Rome, St. John, age 70, was
commissioned by Pope Callistus II to preach and lead a crusade against the
invading Turks. Marching at the head of 70,000 Christians, he gained victory in
the great battle of Belgrade against the Turks in
1456.
FEAST DAY - October
23
On St John's tomb in the Austrian
town of Villach,
the governor
had this message inscribed:
"This
tomb holds John, by birth of Capistrano,
a man
worthy of all praise, defender and promoter of the faith,
guardian
of the Church, zealous protector of his Order,
an
ornament to all the world, lover of truth and religious justice,
mirror of
life, surest guide in doctrine;
praised
by countless tongues, he reigns blessed in
heaven."
St John of
Capistrano, pray for us!
Comments
of Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira:
"One could try to make a classification of the
saints. Some were founders of nations, others were organizers of nations,
still others were founders of religious orders. Then, there is a category of
saints who were the defensive walls of the House of God. They constitute
a kind of saint whose principal goal is to fight, to destroy the enemies of God.
They have the capacity to put fire in souls to stimulate them to the defense of
God, to lead them to combat. And in the combat they know how to sustain the
courage of the good as well as how to attack the enemies. Doing this, they
defend the walls of the House of God. Such is the mission of this category of
saints. St.
John of Capistrano was one of these
saints."
