Saints of the Day & More

Born in Capistrano, diocese of Sulmona, Italy, in 1385. The son of a French or German gentleman who died when John was young. Carefully studied at the University of Perugia (near Assisi). He was a lawyer and judge. In 1412 he was appointed governor of Perugia by Landislaus king of Naples, who had control of that city. He fought against corruption and bribery. When war broke out between Perugia and Malatesta in 1416, John tries to make peace, but instead was taken prisoner of war. In prison he decided to give himself entirely to God. Had a dream that San Francisco saw that he was called to enter the Franciscan order. John had married just before being taken prisoner, but the marriage never ate and was annulled. He entered the Franciscan order in Perugia on October 4, 1416. He was 30 years, so the novice tested it by giving the most humble offices. He was a disciple of St. Bernardino of Siena who taught him theology. He distinguished himself as a preacher while being a deacon. Ordained a...

Joseph was born in 1603 in the small Italian town called Cupertino. His parents were extremely poor. The child came into the world in a poor shed attached to the house because the father, a humble carpenter , was unable to pay the fees to be their home and had been arrested .- At 17, he asked to be admitted to Franciscan but was not admitted . He asked to be received in the Capuchins and was accepted as a lay brother , but after eight months he was expelled because he was extremely distracted. Dropped when carrying dishes to the dining room. You forgot the trades that had been placed . It seemed I was always thinking of other things. As useless as they sent out .- To be discarded, Joseph sought shelter with a family member who was rich, but he said that this young man " was not good for nothing " , and threw him into the street. He was then forced to return to misery and contempt of his house. Mom felt not the slightest pleasure at returning to such " useless " , an...

Anthony was born at Lisbon in Portugal in 1195. He was baptised "Fernando" in the Cathedral Church of old Lisbon. On the font is written: "Here the waters of holy baptism cleansed Anthony from all stain of original sin. The world rejoices in his light, Padua in his body, heaven in his soul." His father, was a revenue officer and knight at the court of Alfonso II, king of Portugal. When Fernando was 15 years old, he joined the community of Canons Regular of St Augustine in Lisbon. However, because of the constant visits of his family, he asked to be moved to another house of the Order. At seventeen he was transferred, more than 175km away, to the Augustinian Monastery of Santa Cruz at Coimbra which was renowned for its biblical scholarship. Here he spent nine years in intense study. There is every indication that during this time he learned the Sacred Scriptures off by heart. However, it is possible that he was not ordained during this period as it was a custom of th...