Joseph of Leonessa
Life and witness
Capuchin preacher who served Christian captives and preached fearlessly despite torture and exile.
Baring-Gould: February · S. JOSEPH OF LEONISSA, C
[Roman Martyrology Authority:--The Acts of his Beatification, which took place in 1737, and those of his canonization in 1746.]
This Saint was born at Leonissa, in the States of the Church, in 1556. He entered the Capuchin Order, and laboured at the redemption of Christian slaves. He died of cancer, at the age of fifty-eight. As the doctors desired to perform a painful operation on him, to remove the cancer, they ordered him to be bound, but he placed his crucifix before him saying, "this is the firmest of all bonds; it will hold me immoveable. Cut deep, I shall not flinch."
[Roman Martyrology. Beatified on August 21st, 1853. The following account is epitomised from his life in "Pictures of Christian Heroism."]