Jesus wanted to strengthen His Apostles. He had just told them that His Church would prevail, but that He would first suffer and die. To encourage them to stay strong until the ultimate victory, He took Peter, James and John up a high mountain and was transfigured before them (Matthew 17: 1-3, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36).
Fast forward 1400 years. The Church was again in need of hope in a trying time. To provide that comfort, in 1457, the Feast of the Transfiguration was given the date of August 6th on the Roman Calendar. Why this day? The answer has everything to do with today’s Saint, St. John of Capistrano. To understand the connection, let’s look closer at St. John of Capistrano’s difficult world, his extraordinary life of preaching and miracles, and his actions at the most significant Battle of Belgrade.
Born in 1386, John entered the world at a very difficult time for Christendom. From 1378 to 1417, the Church experienced the unfortunate Schism of the West, where there were between 2 to 3 rival popes at a time, each supported by different factions. When it finally ended, this long rift had caused fissures in the Church. For one, men were left feeling insecure in knowing who was the sure guide in faith and morals. The respect for the Pope had declined, and as a result, there was little regard for the Mass or Sacraments. Religious men and women became lax in their rules. The evil minded were encouraged to lawlessness, which resulted in a flood of error and depravity. In this environment, heresies began to abound. Great Saints such as St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Bernardine of Siena (who would become St. John of Capistrano’s teacher) were already trying to mend the broken Church through their preaching of the ever-constant truth. If these internal problems were not enough, there was also a problem brewing from without. The Ottoman Empire had begun spreading their rule, and with it, their Muslim religion. With each battle won, they moved closer and closer to Europe and Christendom.
Despite the tumultuous world, John grew up with a widowed mother who was intent on forming him in a life of virtue. This strong foundation coupled with his brilliant mind allowed John to flourish in his legal studies and his work as Governor of Perugia at the young age of 26. Though on track for a successful worldly career and good marriage, John made a sudden pivot during a wrongful imprisonment. Sitting in his cell one day, John had a vision of St. Francis of Assisi and decided right then and there to leave his career, end his engagement, and join the Franciscan order.
Once a Franciscan, John strove for holiness. He was so intent to bring his passions under the yoke of reason that he ate but once a day (and such a small quantity as would scare suffice for a child of 6), he never ate meat, he fasted on bread and water, he slept very little and he subjected himself to various penances. A student of St. Bernardine of Siena, John threw himself into his studies and proved again to be an exceptional scholar. As a Priest, he understood the necessity of learning for those who were engaged in ministry and preaching. Soon, he began to help reform the parts of the Franciscan order that had grown lax by earnestly recommending the pursuit of sacred studies, commanding that in every province a certain house should be specially appointed for this purpose.
In time, John became well known for his own gift of preaching. He was invited all over Europe to help fight rampant heresies. His preaching alone brought throngs of people to see him and thousands were converted. In addition to his preaching, John was known for an extraordinary number of miracles. As an example, his meticulous once documented, “On the road to Clemona on 11 May, a woman who had been deaf for twelve years; at the Franciscan friary in Clemora on 12 May, two men deaf and dumb from birth, 26 with gout, one almost totally blind, one a lunatic and paralyzed in the legs; in the afternoon of the same day, 6 who were unable to walk without sticks, through gout or other diseases, one deaf and dumb from birth, one who could move neither head nor arms, a woman blind in one eye and one with a contracted hand; on 13 May, at the same place, three lame, seven deaf, one dumb and unable to walk without a stick, and one almost blind for 12 years, were miraculously cured.” This kind of record was a normal occurrence. On John’s part, he would avoid glory by saying, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Thy Name be glory.”
Nearing his 70th year did not slow down this gifted preacher. Yet, at this time, another Ottoman victory had brought the Muslim forces to the doorstep of Christendom. It soon became clear that they would vie for the strategic city of Belgrade, which would provide access for further expansion into northern Europe and Italy. The Catholic Church was rightly worried for the future of Christendom; the Pope himself even ordered all priests to insert a collect prayer in Mass for the overthrow of the infidels. Supported by the Pope, St. John of Capistrano began to call different rulers to bring their armies to push back the Ottomans. When most refused, St. John of Capistrano prayed for divine guidance, and eventually understood that he himself was to go to Hungary and campaign for people to join him in a Holy War to fight for God. Soon, thousands had joined him. As this mostly inexperienced army got ready to go up against an army with far superior training, knowledge and weaponry, St. John of Capistrano armed his own with daily Mass and the Sacraments. He was seen tirelessly consoling the timid, providing for the needs of the sick and wounded, exhorting the soldiers to bravery, and inspiring them all with his own unbounded trust in God. When the battles began, St. John of Capistrano held high the standard which bore the name of Jesus. Despite all odds, the Ottomans were completely defeated.
On August 6, 1456, Pope Calixtus III received a letter from St. John of Capistrano letting him know of the stunning victory. As a lasting memorial of the great event, the Pope ordained that the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord should be celebrated throughout the Christian world every year on the day on which the news of triumph reached Rome. The Battle of Belgrade, like the Transfiguration, both remind us that the Catholic Church will not be overcome and that our God can do the impossible.
Are you in a place where it is hard to hope? Does all feel lost and impossible? St. John of Capistrano has been there too, and yet trusted despite enormous odds. Today, let us ask St. John of Capistrano to intercede that our own faith can be transfigured so that we too can withstand the attacks of doubt and courageously put our trust and hope in God.
“The Lord who made the beginning, will take care of the finish!” -St. John of Capistrano
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