GIOVANNI GIUSEPPE della Croce (Carlo Gaetano Calosinto), saint. — Franciscan Alcantarine, born on the island of Ischia on 15 Aug. 1654 and died in Naples on 5 Mar. 1734. For many years he served as novice master and guardian, definitor provincial (1690), and organizer of his province, of which he was elected minister in 1702. To his exemplary governance and educational work he joined a fervent apostolate of charity on behalf of the most wretched and strayed; his spiritual direction was much sought after. His life, marked by penance and mortification, was distinguished by ecstasies, visions, and the discernment of hearts. Declared blessed by Pius VI on 15 May 1789, he was canonized by Gregory XVI on 26 Aug. 1839. Feast among the Franciscans on 5 March.
GIOVANNI GIUSEPPE DELLA CROCE (CARLO GAETANO CALOSINTO), SANTO
BIBL.: Giuseppe di Gesù e Maria, Compendio della vita del ven. p. G. G. della Croce, Napoli 1765; D. dell'Assunta, Vita di s. G. della Croce, Roma 1839; Diz. univ. delle scienze eccle., V, pp. 224-227; Iocham, s. V. in Kirchenlexikon, VI, col. 1690-1701; P. Leone, Anreola serofica, I, Quaracchi 1808, pp. 539-619; D. Stöckel, s. V. in LTHK, V, col. 595; Martyr. Franciscanum, Roma 1938, s. d. 5 marzo.