BL. JOHN THE SPANIARD, RELIGIOUS - 25 JUNE

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JUNE

Saints celebrated on the 25th of June

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BLESSED JOHN THE SPANIARD, RELIGIOUS

John the Spaniard (Johannes Hispanus), commemorated on June 25, was a Carthusian prior in Savoy. Born of commoner parents in Spain, in a place called Almanceps, which according to the Bollandists* was probably in Navarre or some other county near France, he crossed over into France at the age of 13. With a companion in tow, he originally sought to gain scientific training. After staying for a while in Arles (Arelate), he then lived for several years under the care of a hermit. Eventually John entered the Carthusian Order in a place called Monsrivius (the Bollandists* do not provide any more details about this location), where he served as sacristan in the monastery for some time. Later, he came to Chartreuse (Cartusia) to Saint Anthelm (Anthelmus), and from there he was sent by his superiors, along with several others, to settle in the province of Faussigny or Faucigny (Faucinium, Falciniacum) in Savoy, across Lake Geneva. He also became prior of the new monastic community (repausatorium) and died there nine years later, in 1160.

Regarding his funeral arrangements, he had also requested to be buried alongside the two shepherds of Aroz or Agnes, who had been killed by a snow avalanche in the vicinity and whom he had buried next to the monastery. Later, a chapel was built over John the Spaniard's resting place. 

In 1649, when Prince-Bishop Charles Augustus de Sales of Geneva visited these Carthusians on his tours, the mortal remains of our Blessed John were solemnly raised and brought to the sacristy of the church. The following year, on the feast of Saint Bruno, they were placed with great solemnity in a special, very valuable receptacle. The Bollandists* recorded several miracles that occurred through his intercession, e.g., the healing of an epileptic, a patient with life-threatening fever, etc. (v. 143).

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 3, Augsburg, 1869, p. 308)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of 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.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org