Today : Saint Anthony Mary Claret ( old calender ) and St. John of Capistrano ( new calender)

Today we're commemorating St. John of Capistrano , without forgetting the Founder of the Claretian Fathers and of the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary :  
Saint Anthony Mary Claret .

In 1849 , Saint Anthony Mary Claret gathered together five priests who formed the basis of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (popularly known as Claretians). At the suggestion of the Queen of Spain, Isabella II, Anthony was named archbishop of Santiago, Cuba (1850). For the next seven years he made pastoral visitations, preached against the slavery of the Negroes, and regularized numerous marriages. As a result of his activity he was frequently threatened with death and on one occasion an attempt was actually made on his life. In 1857 he was recalled to Spain as confessor to the queen. In 1869 he was in Rome, preparing for the First Vatican Council. He followed Isabella II into exile and at the insistence of the Spanish ambassador, was placed under house arrest in the Cistercian monastery at FontFroide, where he died at the age of 63.

With the occasion of Saint Anthony Claret's feast let us faithfully pray :

Eternal Father, You endowed Anthony Claret with the strength of love and patience to preach the gospel to many nations. By the help of his prayers may we work generously for Your kingdom and gain our brothers and sisters for Christ.Amen

Saint John of Capistrano's Feast was formerly March 28 .

Saint John of Capistrano was taken prisoner when Malatesta di Rimini conquered Perugia and is said to have had a vision in which St. Francis of Assisi invited him to enter the Franciscan Order. This he did, and he made his religious profession in 1418. His master was Bernardine of Siena and after his ordination in 1425 he dedicated himself to preaching and being a promoter of the Franciscan reform.
The new Opening Prayer for the Mass says that God "raised up St. John of Capistrano to give your people comfort in their trials. " In fact, the victory over the Turks was attributed to St. John, who held high the standard with the monogram of the name of Jesus (drawn by St. Bernardine of Siena) and urged the 4,000 crusaders to invoke the name of Jesus. The city was saved and the enemy withdrew, as St. John had seen would happen in a previous vision.
The Office of Readings offers an excerpt from St. John's treatise, Mirror of the Clergy, which was addressed to those who exercise the ministry of preaching. It is still applicable to priests of our time: "Presbyters who are born leaders deserve to be doubly honored, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.... They have been placed here to care for others. Their own lives should be an example to others, showing how they must live in the house of the Lord."

Let us commemorate Saint John of Capistrano and faithfully pray :

Lord, You raised up Saint John of Capistrano to give Your people comfort in their trials. May your Church enjoy unending peace and be secure in Your protection. 
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.