- Our Saints
- Francis of Assisi
- Clare of Assisi
- Anthony of Padua
- Bernard of Corleone
- Jacob of Ghazir
- Curé of Ars
- Joseph of Leonissa
- Agathangelus & Cassian
- Anastasius Hartmann
- Angelus of Acri
- Apollinaris of Posat
- Bernard of Andermatt
- Bernard of Offida
- Bernardine Colpetrazzo
- Conrad of Parzham
- Crispin of Viterbo
- Didacus of Cadiz
- Felix of Cantalice
- Felix of Nicosia
- Fidelis of Sigmaringen
- Francis of Camporosso
- Francis of Bassost
- Ignatius of Laconi
- Ignatius of Santhia
- Innocent of Berzo
- Joseph of Dreux
- Laurence of Brindisi
- Leonard of Chatres
- Leopold Mandic
- Mary Martinengo
- Pio Forgione
- Seraphin Montegrano
- Solanus Casey
- Veronica Giuliani
- Nicholas of Gesturi

JOSEPH OF LEONISSA - CAPUCHIN

Joseph was born into a humble and holy family. We are told that he fasted regularly and that he was drawn to a life of penance. For this reason he was one of the early Capuchins at Assisi in 1573, when he was seventeen, with the primary aim to do penance for the sinners of the world.

His greatest victories were, we are told, over his tongue, his eyes and his imagination. He spoke little and to the point. God enlightened his mind by giving him great humility and a hunger for perfection. Joseph saw that his vocation to religious life was a generous and gratuitous gift of God. Filled with humble gratitude Joseph wanted to show God his love by spreading the faith among the infidels. First, however, obedience was to try him.

His attraction to the contemplative life of the Capuchin satisfied him as a student and a young priest. In obedience he became a preacher and finally was appointed Guardian (Superior) at the friary in Assisi. Joseph slept on boards, wore poor clothes, kept his body in almost continual pain and prayed day and night. Desiring martyrdom Joseph asked and obtained permission to go to Constantinople in 1587 with three companions. The work of these three men among the Christian slaves of the Turks was heroic. Joseph preached to them daily, bound their wounds and changed their attitudes to their suffering. The guards became suspicious of Joseph and thinking him a spy threw him in a dungeon.

After being released Joseph tried to preach to the Sultan, but was arrested, beaten and condemned to die on the gibbet. He was suspended by his right hand and left foot by hooks for three days. A slow fire below him almost choked him. As a large crowd gathered Joseph forgot his torment and preached to them of Christ, but on the third day, apparently quite miraculously he was freed. The saint returned to Italy where he was renowned for his work in the confessional. He became famous as a peacemaker. He continued to do penance and spend long hours in the confessional, despite the cold and heat and preach as many as six sermons a day.

Prayer and penance made Joseph a Capuchin apostle and the Church canonised this in 1745. His feast is celebrated on February 4th.