John Cantius

Who they were

John was born in 1390 at Kęty near Kraków. He studied at the University of Kraków from 1413, took his degrees, and was ordained in 1416. He directed the monastery school at Miechów from 1421 to 1429, then taught at Kraków, where he was dean of the faculty of philosophy from 1432 to 1438.

Appointed cantor of the collegiate church of St Florian with a parish attached, he resigned because he felt unable to fulfil its duties and would not enjoy an income he had not earned. He devoted his life to teaching, prayer and service of the poor, and died in 1473. He is buried in St Anne's Church in Kraków.

The miracles

Many miracles were attributed to him from the start; the university's professors pressed his cause. The details examined are not given in the sources we have used. He is a patron of seminarians and of teaching clergy.

Why that counted as sanctity

John Cantius was a scholar who refused undeserved income, lived simply, taught faithfully and served the poor.