Capuchin Franciscan Lay Brother (1556-1625)
His life
+ Ioan Costist was born in Zaxo, Romania, to a family of prosperous farmers.
+ Inspired by the lives of the saints, he immigrated to Italy, believing that it was the home of the greatest Christians.
+ Settling in Bari, Italy, he worked as a physician’s assistant until he entered the Capuchin Franciscans as a lay brother, receiving the religious name “Jeremiah.”
+ He served in a number of friaries, before being appointed to serve as infirmarian for the Capuchins in Naples. He remained in that community for the remainder of his life, caring for the sick. He was especially known for his compassion or the sick and poor.
+ Brother Jeremiah died on February 26, 1625, and was beatified in 1983.
For reflection
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”—James 1:27
Prayer
O God, by whose gift blessed Jeremiah persevered in imitating Christ, poor and lowly, grant us through his intercession that, faithfully walking in our own vocation, we may reach the perfection you have set before us in your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For Religious)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...