San Juan Capistrano

St John of Capistran - San Juan Capistrano - had his feast day last Thursday in the traditional Roman Rite. So Mary and I are off this afternoon for our annual visit to the Mission San Juan Capistrano and lunch at our and President Nixon's favourite Mexican restaurant.

St John was one of that number (a rather large number, proportionately) of lawyers who are canonized saints. He also became a Capuchin Franciscan and preached and led a crusade against the Mahometan hordes who were invading Europe. The Basilica at San Juan has a wonderful old painting of St John dressed in a Capuchin habit made of chain mail and holding a sword and a banner with the emblem of the Holy Name of Jesus. I have a copy around here somewhere (which if I am able to find you will see posted at the top of this post. Click it to see the extra-large version.) If I can find the camera and it still works I'll try for some pictures of the mission itself.

Last Thursday also used to be the feast day of St Berthold in the old Carmelite calendar. He doesn't appear in the calendar at all any more. His documents apparently were not in order and he was expelled from the calendar. So, since San Juan is going to get pictures (probably, all things being equal), we'll post St Berthold's old collect:

May the venerable feast of St Berthold, Thy Confessor, guard us, O Lord and may we experience the unceasing protection of him who so virtuously governed and spread the Order of Carmel. Through our Lord.