John of Vercelli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blessed John of Vercellli O.P.
Master General of the Order of Preachers
Born	c. 1205 Mosso Santa Maria Biella, Italy
Died	30 November 1283 (aged 78) Montpellier, France
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church (Dominican Order)
Beatified	7 September 1903, Rome by Pope Pius X
Attributes	Dominican habit Book
Patronage	Confraternity of the most Holy Names of God and Jesus ('The Holy Name Society')

John of Vercelli (Giovanni da Vercelli) (around 1205 – November 30, 1283) was an important leader in the Dominican Order. He served as the sixth Master General of the Dominicans from 1264 to 1283. He was known for his dedication and for traveling widely to visit Dominican communities.

Early Life and Becoming a Friar

John was born around 1205 in a place called Mosso Santa Maria in Italy. He studied in Paris, France, and also in Italian cities like Pavia and Vercelli. He focused on Church law. In the 1240s, he decided to join the Dominican friars, a group of religious men who dedicate their lives to God and teaching.

After joining the Dominicans, John was given important tasks. In 1251, Pope Innocent IV asked him to help deal with religious disagreements in northern Italy. This was a time when the Church was trying to bring order back to areas affected by political conflicts.

Later, in 1254, John was appointed as a special representative for the Master General in Hungary. From 1255 to 1257, he served as the Prior (leader) of the Dominican monastery in Bologna, Italy.

Leading the Province of Lombardy

In 1257, John was chosen to be the Prior Provincial of Lombardy, a large region in Italy. This meant he was in charge of all the Dominican convents (monasteries) in that area. At the time, there were thirty convents under his care. During his seven years as Prior, three new convents were started.

One of his main challenges was dealing with the spread of different religious beliefs that the Church considered heresies. Pope Urban IV gave John permission to appoint up to eight Dominican friars to help address these issues in Lombardy. John also had to make sure that a representative from his province attended the yearly General Chapter meetings of the Dominican Order.

Becoming Master General

On June 7, 1264, John was elected as the Master General of the Dominican Order. This was a very important position, making him the worldwide leader of all Dominicans. He held this role until his death. John was known for his energy and simple lifestyle. He often traveled on foot to visit almost all the Dominican houses. He encouraged the friars to follow the rules and Constitutions (laws) of their Order very closely.

In 1267, a significant event happened in Bologna. John of Vercelli oversaw the creation of a new, more impressive resting place for the founder of the Order, Dominic Guzman. This new shrine for Saint Dominic's body was a major project for the Dominicans.

John also worked closely with famous thinkers like Thomas Aquinas on important theological questions.

Working for Peace and Unity

During his time as Master General, John was given important tasks by the Pope. Pope Gregory X asked the Dominicans to help bring peace among the warring states in Italy.

John also played a key role in preparing for the Second Council of Lyons in 1274. This big meeting aimed to unite the Eastern and Western Christian Churches. While working on this, he met and collaborated with Jerome of Ascoli, the leader of the Franciscan Order. Both John and Jerome were later sent by the Holy See (the Pope's office) to help settle a disagreement with King Philip III of France.

A Time of Many Popes

After the Council of Lyons, Pope Gregory X asked the Dominicans to promote devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. John took this task seriously, requiring every Dominican church to have an altar dedicated to the Holy Name. The Society of the Holy Name was formed to fight against disrespect for this name.

The years 1276 and 1277 were unusual because five different popes held office in a short time. John of Vercelli was often involved in the events surrounding these changes. For example, after Pope John XXI died, John of Vercelli and the Franciscan leader Jerome were sent to France. Their mission was to arrange peace between King Philip III of France and King Alfonso X of Castile. This mission was very important to the Church leaders.

Later Years and Death

Late in his life, in 1278, Pope Nicholas III appointed John to be the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. This was a high-ranking position, but John did not want it. He tried to refuse the appointment. After much discussion, and with the help of a cardinal, the Pope finally allowed John to return to his role as Master General of the Dominican Order.

The General Chapter of the Dominican Order was held in Montpellier, France, in 1283. John of Vercelli died there on November 30, 1283, in the Dominican convent.

General Chapters Led by John of Vercelli

John of Vercelli strongly believed in the rule set by Saint Dominic himself: that friars should travel on foot, never using horses or vehicles. The table below shows how much John traveled as Master General. He was always moving, visiting different provinces and convents. The location for each General Chapter was decided the year before, so John's yearly travels always included reaching the chosen city in the spring.

Patronage

John of Vercelli is considered the patron saint of the Confraternity of the most Holy Names of God and Jesus, also known as 'The Holy Name Society'.