Saint Joseph of Leonissa

Also known as

Eufranio
Joseph Desideri

Memorial

4 February

Profile

Third of eight children born to John Desideri, a wool merchant, and Serafina Paolini. His parents died when the boy was 12 years old, and he was raised and educated by his uncle Battista Desideri, a teacher in Viterbo. Desideri arranged a marriage for Eufranio with a local noble family, but the boy felt a call to religious life. Worry over his vocation, and fear of hurting his uncle, made Eufranio sick; he returned to Leonissa to recover There he met, and was greatly impressed by, a group of Capuchin monks. When Eufranio told his uncle of his desire to join them, Desideri insisted that he continue his studies.

Eufranio agreed, and moved to Spoleto to do so, but kept in contact with the monks. Following a novitiate year in which the monks did everything to test and dissuade the young man, he joined the Capuchin Franciscan on 8 January 1573 at age 18, taking the religious name Joseph. Suffered through several self-imposed austerities including fasting three days a week and sleeping on bare boards. Ordained at Amelia on 24 September 1580. Preacher throughout the regions of Umbria, Lazio and Abruzzi. Once converted an entire band of 50 highway bandits, who then showed up as a group for his Lent sermons.

Missionary to Muslim Pera near Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey), receiving his commision on 1 August 1587. Chaplain for 4,000 Christian galley slaves. Often offered to take the place of some slave who was being worked to death, but the authorities never accepted. Ministering to prisoners in a remote camp, he got home late, and was forced to sleep outside the walls of his assigned area; spent a month in jail, charged as a spy for being in the wrong place. Preached to any who would listen, brought lapsed Christians back to the Church and converted Muslims. Worked with prisoners during a plague outbreak.

Joseph repeatedly sought an audience with the Sultan; he planned to ask for a decree of religious freedom. His forceful methods led to his being arrested and condemned to death for trespassing on royal property. Hung by hooks over a smoky fire for three days, he was freed (legend says by an angel), and returned to Italy, in autumn 1589.

There he resumed his vocation of wandering preacher to small villages throughout the country. Preached to and for the poor, and spread the teachings of the Council of Trent. Helped establish hospitals, homeless shelters, and food banks. Ministered in prisons, to the sick, and the poor. With his crucifix in hand, he would wade into gang fights and brawls, praying, and preaching peace and good sense.

Born

8 January 1556 at Leonissa, Umbria, Italy as Eufranio

Died

Saturday 4 February 1612 at Umbria, Italy of cancer and post-operative problems from surgery for that cancer

Name Meaning

whom the Lord adds (Joseph)

Beatified

22 June 1737 by Pope Clement XII

Canonized

29 June 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV

Representation

with Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen

Additional Information

Google Directory
Capuchin Friars
Catholic Online
Friars Minor Capuchin
Catholic Encyclopedia, by F Cuthbert
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein

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Readings

Every Christian must be a living book wherein one can read the teaching of the gospel. This is what Saint Paul says to the Corinthians, 'Clearly you are a letter of Christ which I have delivered, a letter written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh in the heart' (2 Corinthians 3:3). Our heart is the parchment; through my ministry the Holy Spirit is the writer because 'my tongue is nimble as the pen of a skillful scribe'(Psalms 45:2).

- from a sermon by Saint Joseph of Leonissa

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