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January 8, 1556–February 4, 1612
Patron Saint of Leonessa and Amatrice, Italy; Missions in Türkiye; Capuchin province of Abruzzo
St. Joseph of Leonessa, a Capuchin friar known for his ardent charity, missionary zeal, and great compassion for the suffering, was born Eufranio Desiderio in the town of Leonessa in central Italy.
St. Joseph lost his parents at the age of twelve. From childhood, he was devout, disciplined, and drawn to prayer. After surviving a severe illness as a teenager, he discerned a call to religious life and entered the Capuchin Franciscans at age 17, taking the name Joseph.
St. Joseph lived a simple life and showed compassion for the poor. He practiced strict fasting, slept little, and dedicated himself to preaching and serving those marginalized by society. His humility and gentleness endeared him to the people.
At the age of 31, St. Joseph was sent as a missionary to Constantinople, where many Christians lived in captivity under Ottoman rule. There, he ministered to enslaved Christians. He provided spiritual support and advocated boldly for their humane treatment. When a plague broke out in the area, the Capuchin friars took care of the sick, and several of the friars were lost to the disease. St. Joseph became ill but survived.
Zealous for the Faith, St. Joseph entered the city and publicly preached the Gospel. He was arrested and later released through the intervention of the Venetian ambassador. But St. Joseph, knowing that some prisoners had renounced their faith under pressure, decided to speak with the Sultan and convince him that every person had the right to remain faithful to his conscience and his faith. He attempted to enter the Sultan’s chamber and was immediately arrested and tortured. Tradition says hooks were used to hang him by his arms and feet. When he was close to dying, the guards cut him down. Some believe it was divine intervention that saved him.
Returning to Italy, St. Joseph spent the remainder of his life preaching missions throughout Umbria and Abruzzo, calling people to conversion, reconciliation, and a more profound love of God. He devoted himself to charitable works by visiting hospitals, seeking alms for the needy, and planting gardens to feed the hungry.
St. Joseph died on February 4, 1612, in Amatrice and was canonized in 1746. His life of simplicity, courage, and sacrificial love demonstrates that a life of faith begins in prayer and bears fruit in selfless service to those most in need.
During a plague outbreak in the penal colony, St. Joseph and his fellow Capuchins ministered to the sick and dying. He was known for his total disregard for his own comfort and safety to minister to the sick during a plague outbreak. He was said to have miraculously alleviated their pain and symptoms. He touched patients and blessed them in the name of Jesus Christ, anointing them with the Sign of the Cross and fortifying them with the power of Christ’s Passion. The people of Constantinople believed a saint had come to help them, as the fever and pain were immediately extinguished in many patients through his touch and prayer. Ignoring dangers and inconveniences, he personally remained at the mission after two of his brothers died from the plague. St. Joseph became infected with the disease himself and fell ill, but he survived. He and another friar were the only two Capuchins left to continue the missionary work at the penal colony.
St. Joseph of Leonessa was sent to Constantinople in 1587 to minister to and provide spiritual support for the thousands of Christian slaves working for the Turks. His mission was to offer care and spiritual support by preaching the Gospel to them and to Christians in the city. St. Joseph was appointed chaplain to about four thousand Christian slaves in Constantinople. He advocated for them, working relentlessly despite the dangers to alleviate the harsh conditions and inhumane treatment they endured within the penal colony. Filled with great compassion for the plight of the captives, St. Joseph offered to become a substitute for servitude. He proposed several times to take the place of slaves who were near death in hopes of securing their freedom. However, his offer was never accepted.
After returning to Italy from his mission in Türkiye, St. Joseph of Leonessa served in many towns by preaching the Gospel, organizing social services, and catechizing the community. He personally cared for the needy by providing food, washing their clothes, and setting up cooperatives to provide loans and hospices to offer shelter for travelers. He also worked to resolve disputes within families and entire cities, bringing reconciliation. St. Joseph frequently preached multiple times a day and taught the fundamentals of the Faith to both adults and children. St. Joseph organized the Mount of Piety, an alternative funding system for the poor working class who were victims of usury. He often traveled long distances to the most neglected areas, enduring harsh conditions to serve his flock.
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