John Joseph of the Cross
| Saint John-Joseph of the Cross | |
|---|---|
 Depiction of St. John-Joseph |
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| Confessor | |
| Born | August 15, 1654 Ischia |
| Died | March 5, 1739 |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | 1839, Rome by Pope Gregory XVI |
| Feast | March 5 |
| Patronage | Ischia |
Saint John-Joseph of the Cross (August 15, 1654 – March 5, 1739), known most commonly in the Italian language as San Giovan Giuseppe della Croce, was an Italian saint. He is the patron of Ischia, the place where he was born.
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[edit] Biography
Born as Carlo Gaetano Calosirto on the island of Ischia, he entered the Franciscan order at Naples at the age of sixteen. He had a reputation for austerity and for the gift of miracles.
In 1674 he was sent to found a friary at Afila, Piedmont. He assisted in the actual construction. He was ordained as a priest (much against his will) and as superior, performed the lowliest tasks in the monastic community.
In 1702 he was appointed Vicar Provincial of the Alcantarine Reform in Italy.
[edit] Veneration
He was beatified in 1789, and canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI. At the Aragonese Castle (Il Castello Aragonese) on Ischia, there is a small chapel consecrated to Saint John Joseph of the Cross.
