St. John of Capistrano, October 23
An Italian lawyer and governor who became a Franciscan, John of Capistrano (1386-1456) preached across Central Europe. At 70 he rallied the defense of Belgrade against the Ottomans in 1456. He died of plague soon after; he is the patron of military chaplains, and a California mission bears his name.
On the General Roman Calendar, October 23 is an optional memorial: Saint John of Capistrano, priest.
October 23 on the calendar
October 23 is the 296th day of the year (the 297th in a leap year), with 69 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | Wednesday |
Keeping October 23
October 23 falls in October, the month of the rosary. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival.
Saints of the week around October 23
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| October 20 | St. Paul of the Cross |
| October 21 | St. Ursula |
| October 22 | St. John Paul II |
| October 24 | St. Anthony Mary Claret |
| October 25 | Sts. Crispin and Crispinian |
| October 26 | St. Demetrius |
The day before, October 22, is the day of St. John Paul II. The day after, October 24, belongs to St. Anthony Mary Claret. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.