Eufranio Desideri was born in 1556 to an Italian wool merchant in the town of Leonessa. When he was 12, his parents both died and he was raised by his uncle who tried to arrange for Eufranio’s marriage, but Eufranio felt the call to become a Capuchin monk. His uncle objected and Eufranio returned to his studies until he eventually joined the Capuchin order at the age of 18, taking the name Joseph. His preaching converted many, and he served in many roles including as a missionary, as a chaplain for Christian slaves and prisoners in Constantinople, and as an evangelist to the poor and to isolated shepherds. He preached and prayed until he died from cancer at the age of 56.
CHALLENGE
St. Joseph of Leonessa imposed on himself many penances, such as sleeping on a board with a wooden block for a pillow and adding ashes to his food to spoil the taste. He joyfully took on these penances as he sought to perfect his spiritual life. In so doing, he gives us a harsh challenge: Today, evaluate what pleasures you have in this life, and challenge yourself to eliminate one of them.
Our #1 best-seller, Letters From the Voyages of St. Frances Cabrini is a collection of 17 of Mother Cabrini’s letters to her missionary sisters, beautifully re-typeset from the original 1945 edition. Combining lessons of faith and wisdom with vivid descriptions of her adventures, it’s sure to be read again and again.
