Tag: stjohncantius

Saint of the Day – 20 October – St John Cantius (1390-1473) Confessor, Priest, Theologian, Scholastic Philosopher, Physicist, Teacher, Philosopher, Apostle of Charity – Patron of Poland and Lithuania.

St John Cantius, Confessor
From the Liturgical Year, 1903

Kenty, the humble village of Silesia which witnessed the birth of St John, owes its celebrity entirely to him. The Canonisation of this holy Priest, who, in the fifteenth century, had illustrated the University of Cracow by his virtues and science, was the last hope of expiring Poland. It took place in the year 1767. Two years earlier, it was at the request of this heroic nation that Clement XIII had issued the first Decree sanctioning the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. When enrolling John Cantius among the Saints, the magnanimous Pontiff expressed, in moving terms, the gratitude of the Church towards that unfortunate people and rendered to it, before shamefully forgetful Europe, a supreme homage (Bulla Canonisationis). Five years later Poland was dismembered.

John was born at Kenty, a town in the Diocese of Cracow and hence, his surname Cantius. His parents were pious and honourable persons, by name Stanislaus and Anna. From his very infancy, his sweetness of disposition, innocence and gravity, gave promise of very great virtue. He studied philosophy and theology at the University of Cracow and, taking all his degrees, proceeded to professor and doctor. He taught sacred science for many years, enlightening the minds of his pupils and enkindling in them, the flame of piety, no less by his deeds, than by his words.

When he was Ordained Priest, he relaxed nothing of his zeal for study, but increased his ardour for Christian perfection. Grieving exceeingly, over the offences everywhere committed against God, he strove to make satisfaction on his own behalf and that of the people, by daily offering the unbloody Sacrifice with many tears. For several years he had charge of the Parish of Ukusi, which he administered in an exemplary manner but, fearing the responsibility of the cure of souls, he resigned his post and, at the request of the University, resumed the professor’s chair.

Whatever time remained over from his studies, he devoted partly to the good of his neighbour, especially by holy preaching; partly to prayer, in which he is said to have been sometimes favoured with heavenly visions and communications. He was so affected by the Passion of Christ, that he would spend whole nights without sleep, in the contemplation of it and, in order the better to cultivate this devotion, he undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. While there, in his eagerness for Martyrdom he boldly preached Christ Crucified, even to the Turks. Four times he went to Rome on foot and carrying his own baggage, to visit the threshold of the Apostles, in order to honour the Apostolic See, to which he was earnestly devoted and also, (as he used to say), to save himself from Purgatory, by means of the indulgences there daily to be gained. On one of these journeys he was robbed by brigands. When asked by them whether he had anything more, he replied in the negative but afterwards, remembering that he had some gold pieces sewed into his cloak, he called back the robbers, who had taken to flight and offered them the money. Astonished at the holy man’s sincerity and generosity, they restored all they had taken from him!

After St Augustine’s example, he had verses inscribed on the walls in his house, warning others, as well as himself, to respect the reputation of their neighbours. He fed the hungry from his own table and clothed the naked, not only with garments, bought for the purpose but even with his own clothes and shoes; on these occasions hewould lower his cloak to the ground, so as not to be seen walking home barefoot. He took very little sleep and that, on the ground. His clothing was only sufficient to cover him,and his food to keep him alive. He preserved his virginal purity, like a lily among thorns, by using a rough hair-shirt, disciplines and fasting and, for about thirty-five years before his death, he abstained entirely from flesh-meat.

At length, full of days and of merits, he prepared himself long and diligently for death, which he felt drawing near and that nothing might be a hindrance to him, he distributed all that remained in his house, to the poor. Then, strengthened with the Sacraments of the Church and desiring to be dissolved and to be with Christ, he passed to Heaven on Christmas Eve. He worked many miracles both in life and after death. His body was carried to St Anne’s, the Church of the University and there, honourably interred. The people’s veneration for the Saint and the crowds visiting his tomb, increased daily and he is honoured as one of the chief Patrons of Poland and Lithuania. As new miracles continued to be wrought, Pope Clement XIII. solemnly enrolled him among the Saints, on the 17th of August, in the year 1767.

Saint of the Day – 23 December – St John of Kanty/Cantius (1390-1473) Priest/Theologian/Teacher/Confessor/Philosopher – Patron of Poland and Lithuania and various Universities.

He was born in Kęty, a small town near Oświęcim, Poland, to Stanisław and Anna Kanty. He attended the Kraków Academy at which he attained bachelor, and licentiate. In 1418 he became a Doctor of Philosophy. Upon graduation he spent the next three years conducting philosophy classes at the university, while preparing for the priesthood. Upon his ordination, he became rector at the school of the Canons Regular of the Most Holy Sepulcher in Miechow.[2] While there, he was offered a professorship of Sacrae Scripturae (Sacred Scripture) back at his alma mater, the Kraków Academy, which would later be named the Jagiellonian University. He attained a doctorate in theology and eventually became director of the theology department. He held the professorship until his death in 1473. John spent many hours copying manuscripts of the Holy Scriptures, theological tracts, and other scholarly works.
In physics, he helped develop Jean Buridan’s theory of impetus, which anticipated the work of Galileo and Newton.
During his time in Kraków, John Kanty became well known in the city for his generosity and compassion toward the poor, especially needy students at the university. He subsisted on what was strictly necessary to sustain his life, giving alms regularly to the poor.

He was a serious man and a good teacher. He ate no meat, slept on the floor, and rested little. Though John was hard on himself, he was patient and kind to his students, who loved him in return. Some jealous faculty members, however, had him removed. John was sent to do parish work, but he was not acquainted with such duties. Although the people liked him for his generous and energetic spirit, John was not successful as a parish priest.

John returned to the university to teach Scripture. The material he taught was not remembered as much as his holiness. He was known everywhere for his humility and spontaneous generosity. He gave everything to people who were poor and kept only the clothes he most needed. Four times he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, carrying his luggage on his back. When John died at age 83, people had already claimed him as a saint

Tomb of Saint John Cantius
Church of St. Anne, Kraków, Poland

John of Kanty/Cantius was beatified in Rome by Pope Clement X on 28 March 1676. He was named patron of Poland and Lithuania by Pope Clement XII in the year 1737.[3] Ninety-one years after his beatification, Blessed John Cantius was canonized on 16 July 1767, by Pope Clement XIII.

The Roman Breviary distinguishes him with three hymns; he is the only confessor not a bishop who has been given this honour in the Roman Catholic liturgy.

St. John Cantius is a popular saint in Poland. A number of churches and schools founded by Polish diaspora communities throughout North America are named in his honour, in cities as far-ranging as Cleveland, Ohio; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Rolling Prairie, Indiana, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; St. Cloud, Minnesota; Wilno, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Erie, and Windber, Pennsylvania; New York City and Buffalo, New York.

“John Cantius” has been used as a first and middle name—see, for example, John Cantius Garand.

In 1998, a new religious institute was founded, based in Chicago, which took St. John Cantius as their patron saint. Thus they are the Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius.