John Joseph of the Cross
Italian saint
Feast: 5 March (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Carlo Gaetano Calosirto was born on the island of Ischia on 15 August 1654. As a Friar Minor, following in the steps of St Peter of Alcántara, he restored religious discipline in many friaries of the Naples province.
Sent to found a friary at Piedimonte, he built a little hermitage there, 'La Solitudine', still a place of pilgrimage. His patched habit won him the name 'Brother Hundred Patches'. St Francis de Geronimo and St Alphonsus Liguori knew him and sought his counsel. He is co-patron of Ischia.
The miracles
The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A poor friar who renewed the religious life of his province by his example.
Connected on this site
- Alphonsus Maria de Liguori Saint Pupil
- Francis de Geronimo Saint“St Francis de Geronimo and St Alphonsus Liguori knew him and sought his counsel.” — this site's research
- Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus Saint“Her father wanted her married, but she followed God; the people called her 'the little saint', and she was guided by St John Joseph of the Cross.” — this site's research
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Giovan Giuseppe della Croce
- Wikidata Q1093725 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — John Joseph of the Cross (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.