BL. JOHN, BISHOP OF THEROUANNE - 27 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 27th of January

BLESSED JOHN, BISHOP OF THEROUANNE

A page of one of Fortunatus Hueber's
Saints' books,
"Stammenbuch..." (1693)

Blessed John, Bishop of Therouanne (Johannes, Ep. Morinorum) was born at Warneton or Warten (Garnestanum, Warnestunum) on the Lys (Legia) in West Flanders, which place formerly belonged to the bishopric of Therouanne (Terouanne, Terouenne). 

The time of his birth is not specified. His pious parents  Guilelmus and Phagala gave him a good upbringing. Excellent mental abilities and tireless diligence, as well as the teaching of most excellent tutors, led him to great learning, which was always accompanied by an enlightened piety. One of his teachers was Saint Ivo, another Lambertus.

After spending some time with the clergy in Lille (Insula) and later at the monastery of Mont-Saint-Eloy (Mons S. Eligii) near Arras in the region of Artois, at the monastery of the regular canons, he was called by his former tutor Lambertus, when the latter had become the first bishop of Arras after the separation from the bishopric of Cambrai. The new bishop appointed our Blessed John archdeacon. This promotion took place around the year 1094, and not long afterwards he was chosen bishop of Terouanne.

John, however, was shocked and tried in every way possible to avoid assuming such a responsible position and could only be forced to do so by a firm letter from Pope Urban II at the time. Thus our Blessed John was ordained on June 4, 1099 first as a priest, then on the following July 17 at Reims by the local archbishop Manasses as a bishop and on July 24 to the great joy of the whole diocese in Terouanne solemnly enthroned (as the 29th or 30th bishop of this diocese). 

Blessed John soon attracted like-minded men to himself and, with their aid and the confidence he enjoyed from many abbots, became a true benefactor of his diocese. Once God miraculously rescued him from the hands of an assassin, and another time at a church festival, because of the great crowd present, a bridge collapsed with him and many of his companions, without him or anyone else suffering any harm. He enjoyed the favour of Pope Paschalis II to a great extent and was entrusted by him with many important ecclesiastical tasks. 

For more than 30 years he excelled in all episcopal virtues, had restored ecclesiastical discipline in all charity and with much patience, founded eight monasteries, provided others, such as the monastery of Saint Bertin near Saint Omer, with better income or otherwise with advice and deeds. Furthermore, he endowed many churches..He also assisted at the consecration of Bishop Godefridus of Amiens, buried Bishop Baldricus of Tournay and transferred (on April 13, 1108) the body of Saint Hunfridus, one of his predecessors. In these and many other ways John did much for the glory of God. 

This zealous bishop finally died on January 27, 1130, and was glorified by miracles. He was buried in his church on January 29 by Bishop Robert of Arras, accompanied by many abbots etc. One of the pall-bearers, who also wrote his vita said afterwards that, when he helped to carry the bishop's coffin, he felt no weight whatsoever on his shoulder.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 3, Augsburg, 1869, pp. 289-90)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of the blessed John may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.