December 23: Saint John of Kanty

“Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.”


Today, December 23, we celebrate the feast day of Saint John of Kanty (also know as Saint John Canteco, Saint John Cantius, 1390-1473), Polish priest, Scholastic philosopher, physicist, theologian, and one of the principal patron saints of Poland.

John was born in Kęty, a small town near Oświęcim, in the diocese of Kraków, Poland. A brilliant student, he attended the Kraków Academy at which he attained bachelor’s degree, and eventually his doctorate in physics and theology. Felt called to the priesthood, upon graduation he spent the next three years preparing for the holy life, at the end of which he was ordained.

Upon ordination, John was offered professorship at a nearby university, which he happily accepted. For some time, he served as a parish priest, a responsibility he took with the greatest seriousness. Soon thereafter, he was offered a professorship of Sacrae Scripturae (Sacred Scripture) back at the University of Krakow. This post he served until his death many years later.

Saint John lived his life in accordance with the Scriptures, and maintained both humor and humility. He was generally liked by all, and was regarded as an excellent teacher and scholar. John embraced mortification and suffering, visiting Rome and Jerusalem on foot, wishing for nothing more that to suffer martyrdom. During one such trip, he was accosted by thieves, who stripped him of his valuables. Upon asking if he had anything else, and the saint denying it, the theives left him. Soon after, John remembered that he had sewn some gold into the lining of his robes. He hurried after the theives, confessing his “lie” and offering the gold to them. So moved by his truthfulness, the theives are said to have returned all his posessions.

In his daily life, he subsisted only on what was strictly necessary to sustain his life, giving alms regularly to the poor. It is said that he frequently would take his dinner plate into the street, offering it to the poor, rather than eating it himself

To guard himself and his household from evil gossip, John is said to have written upon the wall of his room: Conturbare cave, non est placare suave, diffamare cave, nam revocare grave: "Guard against causing trouble and slandering others, for it is difficult to right the evil done."

When he reached the end of his life, sensing that his death was near at hand, he distributed whatever possessions he still had to the poor and died peacefully at an advanced age. His remains were interred in the Church of St. Anne, Kraków, where his tomb has become a popular pilgrimage site.

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that by the example of the Priest Saint John of Kanty we may advance in knowledge of holy things and by showing compassion to all, may gain forgiveness in your sight. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.




Year 2: Day 357 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Humility: Lives dedicated to our neighbors and those in need; Clean hearts and tongues;
Requested Intentions: Healing (M); Safety, security, and sanctity for a family (A); Healing (N); Successful relationship (N); Healing of a friend; growth in the Lord (M); To hear and answer the Lord’s call (M); Healing of a friend undergoing chemotherapy (L); For the peace, safety, and holiness of a sister (J); Financial security (C); Conversion of a newly married couple (M); Peace in a family (S); Peaceful repose of departed mother (J); Blessings on a relationship (J); Financial security, successful employment (J); Obedience to God’s will (A); Conversion of souls (A); Success of business venture; faith of daughter (S); Safe return home (J); Recovery of mother and son; repose of the souls of the dearly departed (A); Blessings upon a relationship (M); Sobriety and recovery for a son (M); Employment and successful marriage (A); Employment, healing, freedom from anxiety (T); Financial security (C); Conversion (T); Peace in difficult times at work (E); Financial security and blessings for mother and children (T); Financial security for a mother (M); Health, finances, successful marriage (A); Successful resolution of court case for son (K); Continued sobriety (N); Healing of a chronic health condition (B); Successful employment (A): Peace in a family, recovery of a niece from substance use (L); Blessings on a marriage, healing of a husband (P); For the health and recovery of sisters (B); For a daughter and granddaughter (D); Blessings on overseas employment (M); Healing of mother (L).