Saint Joseph of Leonessa
A Capuchin missionary in Constantinople, Joseph of Leonessa devoted himself to galley slaves before being tortured by the Turks by being suspended by one foot and one arm. Surviving miraculously, he ended his life in Italy, enduring cancer with heroic strength drawn from his crucifix. He died on February 4, 1612.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT JOSEPH OF LEONESSA, CAPUCHIN FRIAR (1612).
Mission in Constantinople
In 1387, Joseph went to Pera to care for the galley slaves during a plague epidemic and obtained conversions among the renegades.
In 1387, Joseph of Leonessa set out as a missionary to Pera, a su burb of Consta ntinople. The galley slaves were those to whose service he devoted himself. He cared for them with admirable zeal and courage during a plague that decimated them; he was struck by it himself and was miraculously saved by Providence: he saw several renegades, one of whom was a pasha, return to the Christian religion.
Torture and return to Italy
Condemned by local authorities, he survived the torture of being suspended from a cross before being exiled to Italy.
The Mohammedans, upon hearing this news, flew into an extreme rage, seized the missionary, and hung him from a cross by one foot and one arm. He was left suspended in this manner for a long time, after which the sultan commuted his death sentence to perpetual exile. He re turned to Italy and continued to devote himself to apostolic labors there.
Final trial and passing
Afflicted with cancer, he refused to be bound for his operation, relying on his crucifix, before passing away in 1612.
Afflicted towards the end of his life with a horrible cancer, it was deemed necessary to perform an operation on him and they wished to bind him, but taking his crucifix, he said: "Here is the strongest of all bonds; it will hold me still much better than any ropes."
He rendered his soul to God on February 4, 1612.
Posterity and references
The saint's iconography preserves the memory of his torture among the Turks, and his life is documented in the Seraphic Palm.
Although he only died after his return to Italy, the gallows where he was hung by one foot and one hand, because of his proselytism among the Turks, is included in the images made of him.
See our Seraphic Palm, 12 volumes in-8°: the life of Saint Joseph of Leonissa is recounted there in fu ll.
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Saint Joseph of Leonessa
Frequently asked questions about Saint Joseph of Leonessa
Who was Saint Joseph of Leonessa?
A Capuchin missionary in Constantinople, Joseph of Leonessa devoted himself to galley slaves before being tortured by the Turks by being suspended by one foot and one arm. Surviving miraculously, he ended his life in Italy, enduring cancer with heroic strength drawn from his crucifix. He died on February 4, 1612.
How is Saint Joseph of Leonessa depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Saint Joseph of Leonessa is recognizable by: gallows (hanging by one foot and one hand) and crucifix.
What miracles are attributed to Saint Joseph of Leonessa?
1 miracle are attributed to this saint, notably: Healing.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Joseph of Leonessa?
Contemporaries include: María de Jesús López Rivas, Mariana de Jesús de Paredes, Blessed Mariana de Jesús (de Paredes y Flores) and Saint Francis de Sales (Bishop and Prince of Geneva).
When did Saint Joseph of Leonessa die?
Saint Joseph of Leonessa died around 1612.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Missionary in Pera (Constantinople) in 1387
- Devotion to galley slaves during the plague
- Conversion of renegades, including a pasha
- Torture of suspension by one foot and one arm by the Muslims
- Perpetual exile and return to Italy
- Surgery for a tumor without anesthesia, sustained by his crucifix
Quotes
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This is the strongest of all bonds; it will hold me motionless much better than any ropes.
Saint Joseph of Leonissa (during his operation)