John Cantius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintJohn Cantius |
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Saint John Cantius
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| Confessor | |
| Born | June 23, 1390 Kęty, Oświęcim, Crown of the Kingdom of Poland |
| Died | December 24, 1473 (aged 83) Kraków, Crown of the Kingdom of Poland |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 28 March 1676, Rome by Pope Clement X |
| Canonized | 1767, Rome by Pope Clement XIII |
| Major shrine | Church of St. Anne Kraków, Poland |
| Feast | 23 December 20 October (Poland, General Roman Calendar 1770–1969) |
| Attributes | in a professor's gown with his arm around shoulder of a young student whose gaze is directed towards Heaven; giving his garments to the poor |
| Patronage | Poland; Lithuania; Jagiellonian University |
John Cantius (born Jan z Kęt) was a Polish Catholic priest. He was also a deep thinker, a scientist, and a religious scholar. He was born on June 23, 1390, and passed away on December 24, 1473. He is remembered for his kindness and for teaching at the famous Kraków Academy, which is now called Jagiellonian University.
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John Cantius's Life Story
John Cantius was born in Kęty, a small town in Poland. His parents were Anna and Stanisław Kanty. He went to the Kraków Academy, which is now known as Jagiellonian University. There, he earned his bachelor's and licentiate degrees. In 1418, he became a Doctor of Philosophy. After finishing his studies, he taught philosophy at the university for three years. During this time, he also prepared to become a priest.
Becoming a Priest and Professor
After becoming a priest, John Cantius became the head teacher at a school in Miechow. While he was there, he was offered a job teaching "Holy Scripture" back at his old university, the Kraków Academy. He accepted the offer and later earned a doctorate in theology. He eventually became the director of the theology department. He continued to teach there until he passed away in 1473. John Cantius spent many hours carefully copying religious texts and other scholarly works.
His Work in Science
John Cantius also contributed to the field of physics. He helped to develop a theory called the "theory of impetus." This idea was important because it helped explain how objects move. His work came before the famous scientists Galileo and Newton made their own discoveries about motion.
Kindness and Generosity
While living in Kraków, John Cantius became well-known for being very generous. He showed great kindness to people who were poor, especially students at the university who needed help. He lived a very simple life, only keeping what was absolutely necessary for himself. He regularly gave money and help to those in need. He also made five long journeys on foot: one to Jerusalem and four to Rome.
Michael Miechowita, a historian from Poland, wrote about John Cantius. He described how humble and charitable John Cantius was. John Cantius had a motto that showed his beliefs:
- Beware disturbing: it's not sweetly pleasing,
- Beware speaking ill: for taking back words is burdensome.
This means he believed it was important to be careful not to upset others or speak badly about them.
His Final Years
John Cantius passed away on December 24, 1473, at the age of 83. He was living in retirement at his old university. His body was buried in the Church of St. Anne in Kraków. His tomb became a popular place for people to visit and pray, and it still is today. He is considered a special helper for the diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec and for students.
Why Is He a Saint?
John Cantius was officially recognized as a blessed person (beatified) in Rome by Pope Clement X on March 28, 1676. Later, in 1737, Pope Clement XII named him a special protector (patron) of Poland and Lithuania. Ninety-one years after being beatified, John Cantius was declared a saint (canonized) on July 16, 1767, by Pope Clement XIII.
He is a very popular saint in Poland. Many churches and schools built by Polish communities around North America are named after him. You can find them in cities like Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; and New York City.
When Do We Celebrate Him?
When Saint John Cantius's special day (feast day) was first added to the Catholic calendar in 1770, it was on October 20. However, in 1969, the calendar was changed. His feast day was moved to December 23. This date is the day before the anniversary of his death, which happened on Christmas Eve in 1473.
See also
- Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius
- St. John Cantius Church (Chicago)
- St. John Cantius Church in the article on Wilno, Minnesota
