Blessed John of Vercelli (+1283)
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 01 Dec 2009 at 04:04 pm | Tagged as: Dominican Saints, Liturgical Feasts
When the prince of pastors comes again,
you will receive from him an unfading crown of glory.
From the Dominican Ordo:
Blessed John was born near Vercelli, Italy, at the beginning of the thirteenth century. While a professor of law at the University of Paris he was attracted to the Order by Blessed Jordan of Saxony. He was, in turn, a prior, a provincial, and the sixth Master of the Order (1264-1283). He often consulted Saint Thomas Aquinas on theological matters and defended his doctrine. He was present at the Council of Lyons, where he accepted for the Dominican Order the commission ot promote reverence for the Holy Name of Jesus. He was responsible for commissioning Nicolai Pisani to sculpt a marble tomb for the remains of Saint Dominic. In his visitations he zealously promoted the life of study, poverty and evangelical preaching. He died at Montpellier on November 30, 1283. He is considered the patron of the Holy Name Society established in 1432.
There is a shrine dedicated to Blessed John of Vercelli located in St. Dominic’s Church in New Orleans. Click here for the shrine’s website, on which you can read a fuller sketch of Blessed John’s life.
God of power and mercy,
you made Blessed John an outstanding promoter
of the Order of Preachers.
By his remarkable zeal, his wonderful prudence and his courage,
and with the help of his prayers
may your family always and everywhere
be governed by beneficial rule.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.