Hoping to be Martyred

Saint John of Kanty

Saint John of Kanty
Profile:
Polish from a rural background.
Brilliant student at the University of Cracow, Poland.
Priest.
Professor of theology at University of Cracow.

Saint John was stripped of his university position. Rivals who resented Saint John's popularity with the students had cooked up a false charge against him. Saint John was not even allowed to appear at his own hearing or testify in his own defense. So at 41, he was assigned as parish priest at Olkusz, Bohemia. He took his new position seriously, was terrified of the responsibility but did his best. For a long time that wasn't enough for his parishioners for they knew what a Cracow professor would think of their small rural town. But even more insulting, their town was once again being used as a dumping ground for a priest who was disgraced, but in the end he won their hearts. After eight years, he was exonerated and transferred back to Cracow. He had been so successful that these once-hostile people followed him several miles down the road, begging him to stay. Back at Cracow, he taught Scripture for the rest of his life.

John was a serious, humble man, generous to a fault with the poor, sleeping little, eating no meat and little of anything else. Pilgrim to Jerusalem, hoping to be martyred by Turks. He made four pilgrimages to Rome, carrying his luggage on his back. When warned to look after his health, he pointed out that the early desert fathers lived long lives in conditions that had nothing to recommend them but the presence of God.

At the time of his death, John was so well loved that his veneration began immediately. For years his doctoral gown was worn by graduates receiving advanced degrees at the University of Cracow. He was declared patron of Poland and Lithuania in 1737 by Pope Clement XII, thirty years before his final canonization.

Also known as
• John Cantius
• John Kantius
• John of Kanti
• John of Kenti

Born
23 June 1390 at Kanty, Silesia, Poland
Died
24 December 1473 at Cracow, Poland, of natural causes
Canonized
16 July 1767 by Pope Clement XIII
Patronage
Lithuania
Poland
Representation
In a professor's gown with his arm around the shoulder of a young student whose gaze he directs towards heaven.
Giving his garments to the poor.

Readings:
Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.
Saint John of Kanty