John was born at Kenty near Oswiecim in Poland in 1412, hence his surname Cantius. His parents were pious and honourable persons, Stanislaus and Anna. From his very infancy his sweetness of disposition, innocence and gravity gave promise of very great virtue. John studied philosophy and theology at the University of Cracow and taking all his degrees proceeded professor and doctor. He taught sacred science for many years, enlightening the minds of his pupils and kindling in them the flame of piety, no less by his deeds than by his words. When he was ordained a priest he relaxed nothing of his zeal for study but increased his ardour for Christian perfection. Grieving exceedingly 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 John was in charge of the parish of Olkusz 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 John devoted partly to the good of his neighbour especially by holy preaching, and 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 in 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 Saint 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 he would 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. 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 Saint Anne’s, the church of the University, and there honourably interred.
The people’s veneration for John, and the crowds visiting his tomb, increased daily. 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 seventeenth of the Calends of August 1767.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
Kenty, the humble village of Silesia which witnessed the birth of Saint 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. Five years later Poland was dismembered.
* * * * *
The Church is ever saying to you, and we repeat it with the same unwavering hope: “O you, who never refuses assistance anyone, take in hand the cause of your native kingdom. It is the desire of the Poles, your fellow-countrymen, it is the prayer of even foreigners.” The treason of which your unhappy fatherland was the victim has not ceased to press heavily on disorganised Europe. How many other crushing weights have since been thrown into the balance of our Lord’s justice! O John, teach us at least not to add thereto our own personal faults. It is by following you along the path of virtue that we will merit to obtain pardon from Heaven and to hasten the hour of great atonements.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Abia near Aquila in Abruzzo, the birthday of blessed Maximus, deacon and martyr, who, through the desire of suffering, presented himself to the persecutors that sought him. After answering with great constancy, he was racked and tortured, then beaten with rods, and finally he died by being precipitated from an elevated place.
At Agen in France, St. Caprasius, martyr. As he was hiding himself in a cavern to avoid the violence of the persecution, the report of the blessed virgin Faith’s courage in suffering for Christ animated him to endure torments, and he prayed to God that, if he were deemed worthy of the glory of martyrdom, clear water might flow from the rock of his cavern. God having granted his prayer, he went with confidence to the scene of combat, and after a valiant struggle, merited the palm of martyrdom under Maximian.
At Antioch, St. Artemius, imperial officer. Although he had filled high stations in the army under Constantine the Great, Julian the Apostate, who he had reprehended for his cruelty towards Christians, ordered him to be beaten with rods, subjected to other torments, and finally beheaded.
At Cologne, the martyrdom of the holy virgins Martha and Saula, with many others.
At Minden, the birthday of St. Felician, bishop and martyr.
At Paris, the holy martyrs, George, deacon, and Aurelius.
In Portugal, St. Irene, virgin and martyr.
In the diocese of Rheims, St. Sindulphus, confessor.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
