San Juan Capistrano

Originally published in the bulletin of St. Vincent Ferrer Church, Delray Beach, FL in October 23, 2022

When I was a child, I was fascinated by the swallows of San Juan Capistrano Mission church in California. Every year, the swallows flew south to Argentina, leaving on the feast of St. John (October 23) and making their return on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19. I knew a little about California history, and the missions that opened there when it was Spanish territory. Back then, though, I didn’t understand that “San Juan Capistrano” was actually the name of the saint on whose feast day the swallows began their trek South.

San Juan Capistrano, or, rather, St. John of Capistrano, never visited that area. In fact, he never would have visited the new world at all, as he was died almost fifty years before Columbus set sail. He was born in June, 1386 in Italy, in the town of Capestrano. It’s a small town, even today: it’s almost exactly the same size in area as Delray Beach, but it is home to less than 1,000 people.

St. John studied law at the University of Perugia and practiced law in Naples. He became governor of Perugia when he was just 26 years old. During a war between Perugia and another town, he became a prisoner. After that war, rather than resuming his old life, he began to study to enter the Franciscan order. He was ordained in 1420, at the age of 34, and began to preach all over Italy. It was a time of much religious apathy and confusion, and St. John quickly became known for his inspired preaching. He preached repentance for sins, and brought hope to the people. With a dozen other Franciscans, he journeyed to countries of central Europe, where they were received as angels of God. They were instrumental in reviving a dying faith and devotion throughout Europe. He preached in Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia. He preached about the need for repentance.

His preaching also helped heal dissention in the Franciscan Order, which was in turmoil over the interpretation and observance of the Rule of St. Francis. St. John worked tirelessly to create understanding and agreement, and, some say, saved the Franciscan order.

In 1453, the city of Constantinople was captured by the Turks. St. John was sent to preach for a crusade to come to the defense of Europe. He was not very successful in Bavaria or Austria, but Hungary supported his efforts. New World Encyclopedia  states that, in the Battle of Belgrade (1456), the “one ally [of General John Hunyadi] was the Franciscan friar, Giovanni da Capistrano, who preached a crusade so effectively that the peasants and yeomanry, ill-armed (most of them had only slings and scythes) but full of enthusiasm, flocked to the standard of Hunyadi, the kernel of whose host consisted of a small band of seasoned mercenaries and a few banderia of noble horsemen.” (https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Siege_of_Belgrade) A great victory was won in Belgrade, but St. John’s health was compromised. He died on October 23, 1456. He is the patron saint of military chaplains and of those who work as judges and in various legal professions.