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CURRICULUM VITAE

He came from Keta near Kraków, where he graduated from the university and later became a professor of theology and philosophy. He also worked as a canon and, for a short time, was a parish administrator. His life was filled with loving care, especially for poor students. He knew the value and significance of the pilgrimage on foot, which he made to Jerusalem and then to the tombs of the apostles in Rome four times. He always loved to return to his beloved chair in Kraków and died at an advanced age.

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THE POWER OF A LOVING LIFE

He was born on 23 June 1390 in the village of Malec, 5 km from Kęta, about 70 km southwest of Kraków, Kraków, Poland. His father, Stanisław Cantius, and mother, Anna, taught their gifted son primarily piety. Jan Cantius, called Kętský after his hometown, studied at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow from about 20 or 23 years old, with excellent results. At 27, he became an associate professor of philosophy. After further studies, especially in theology, he was ordained a priest. He was allegedly 34 years old, which would place him in 1424. However, in 1421, the church authorities appointed him rector of the monastery school in Miechów. He worked there until 1429, when he was called as a professor at the university in Krakow, where he had previously studied. Before that, he was also a canon of the Krakow Chapter of St. Florian. He soon renounced his church duties and earned a living by copying codices. He always began his work with the words “in nomine Domini” and ended it with “in laudem Dei”. Over the years, he also wrote commentaries on the Gospel of St. Matthew, the Sentences of Peter Lombard, and the Summa of Thomas Aquinas.

John of Kent was distinguished by great modesty and asceticism. Both were associated with great love for God and his fellow man. In his humility before God, he was keenly aware of his every slightest imperfection, which is why he liked to travel to holy places on foot as a penitent, regardless of the distance. With the blessing of the Bishop of Krakow, he set out for the Holy Land. He did not give in to various warnings or persuasions from his companions to use a horse. In the heat of love, he is said to have spoken to the Mohammedans in Palestine and returned in good health, only exhausted from the journey, but with great comfort in his heart. After that, he traveled to the tombs of the apostles in Rome four more times. On his travels, he performed acts of love and thus taught practically. Everywhere, some people need help not only because of poverty, but also because of illness of body or soul.

On one of his trips to Rome, he was attacked by robbers, who asked him if he had any more money, and he said no. When they released him, he remembered the gold coins sewn into his garment and returned them, explaining that he had not intended to deceive them but had forgotten them. This, one might say, shocked them, and this encounter with the saint converted them. The amazement at such sincerity made them reflect on their previous lives, until they came to a penitential confession, to which John invited them with the promise of heavenly consolation. After granting them absolution, John is said to have accepted their hospitality and encouraged them in good things. In connection with this story, the example of Jesus, who did not condemn, but, as he said, “came to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

John of Kent was very merciful and kind to everyone, especially people with low incomes, to whom he gave more than he could. It is said that he often gave his shoes to a barefoot beggar and then lowered his cloak so that it was not visible that he was walking barefoot. One winter, he allegedly saw a half-naked poor man on the street in the snow, wrapped him in his doctor’s cloak, and continued to serve mass for him. Immediately after the service, he rushed with his assistants to the place where he had left the person in question. However, he was never found. However, John saw the doctor’s cloak hanging in his locked home. Subsequently, a legend spread that the poor man was Jesus himself.

More detailed biographies deal more with John’s generosity. In them, he is called a pantry and a provider for poor students. During a great famine, when there was nowhere else to take, an unknown voice told him in a dream that in the morning he should ask the first person he met for a donation to illuminate the image of the Mother of God, and then ask pious women for a pea, a lump of salt and a pinch of porridge… and offer everything to the Virgin Mary, who would multiply the small alms with her blessing. The first person John met in the morning was a merchant who wanted to show his gratitude for the grace he had received and added something for the students. He also received much more from the women in response to a modest request, and from that day on, he had no shortage of people with low incomes.

It is said that he wept with those who wept, rejoiced with those who were happy, and suffered with those who suffered. The legend also tells of a poor widow who called for help for her dying child too late. Despite her despair, John urged her to sacrifice the child to God. He took it in his arms, and after his prayer, it came to life. His work was imbued with the power of a loving life.

Once a fire broke out in Krakow, and John told the people, “Where a person is helpless, God will help.” Then he knelt to pray fervently. During the fire, a man allegedly appeared to him; according to John, it was St. Stanislaus, who told him to be calm and that his prayer would put out the fire. And that is what happened. Subsequently, John admonished people to repent to avert God’s punishments. These can occur because God does not intervene against the harmful things people do. Following the example of a particular saint, John wrote verses in various places – on doors, tables, seats, and in books – with which he reminded everyone that it is not permissible to harm the good reputation of others.

For some time, Jan was also a parish priest in the mining town of Olkuš nad Krakovem, but he reportedly perceived it as a burden and was soon called back to a university chair in Kraków, where he was pleased to return. He was twice elected dean of the Faculty of Philosophy.

After giving away all he had for the last time and receiving the last sacraments, he died at the age of 83. He was buried in the Church of St. Anne in Kraków. He was beatified in 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII and canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII.

RESOLUTION, PRAYER

Indeed, much can only be done in the power of love, connection with God, and for His glory, as is shown in the lives of many saints. The opposite is concern for one’s own “self.” I must increasingly see the needs of others and consider them more important than before. The help is to see Christ in others.

Almighty God, guide us to ever more profound insight into the wisdom of your saints and, following the example of Saint John, to do good to all men, so that the promise of your mercy may be fulfilled in us too through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. 

  Perhaps, when looking at a memorial plaque or statue of a notable personality from any field, the thought has occurred to you: Who were their parents? How did they live? What did they do to make their child famous? We know very little about the parents of well-known personalities; we often learn about them only marginally, and yet they usually mattered in what would become of their son or daughter. This thought also became relevant while reading today’s Gospel, which tells of Zechariah’s offering of a sacrifice and his meeting with the angel Gabriel, who announces the good news to him. The predecessor of the Lord Jesus – John the Baptist, by his father and mother, came from the descendants of Aaron, from the priestly family, which enjoyed the most tremendous respect among the Jews. When a woman did not have a child, it was understood as a punishment from God for her and the entire family. This fate also befell Elizabeth and Zechariah. But both were righteous before God and kept all the commandments and statutes of the Lord blamelessly. Elizabeth and Zacharias were already advanced in age. The lot fell on Zacharias to enter the sanctuary and offer incense on the golden altar. It was a tremendous honor for Zacharias, as he represented the entire nation at this ceremony. Zacharias was aware of this honor. He was certainly overcome with excitement. It is also a time when the country is demanding the Messiah’s arrival. The hated Romans are spreading among their nation. The nation is more aware than ever that only the Messiah can deliver it from this sad state. Zacharias is aware of his old age, the years of his wife, and the fact that the Messiah will not come from their womb. In his younger years, he had hoped that God would hear his prayers. But even so, now he is asking for the coming of the future Messiah. He also has his goal in mind with the incense offering that he wants to make. Let us recall that when David established the Old Testament worship, he divided the priests into 24 classes. Each performed a week of service in the temple. It was decided by lot who would perform what service in his class. One of the priests entered the sanctuary every morning and evening, and there burned sacrificial incense on the so-called golden altar.

Zechariah also performed this service. At this offering, an angel announced to him the birth of a son. Instead of immediately believing, Zechariah thinks only of the obstacles nature has placed in the way of these words: infertility and old age. And yet the thought of hope flashed through his mind! After all, how many similar births does the nation know? After all, the mothers of Isaac, Samson, and Samuel were also of advanced age and gave birth to sons. Yet, Zechariah asks the angel, “How can I know this? I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But you will be mute and unable to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time” (Luke 1:18-20). 

If Jesus only wanted the wicked to change and become beneficial, then behaving honestly would win it.” And I feel that this is how we often act with the gospel and Jesus’ work of salvation—it is about sinners turning around, abandoning their sin, and thus changing their “no” to a “yes.” So why does he mention the second situation today, when “yes” ultimately becomes “no”? The answer is because he does not view the world in terms of “good” or “bad”! After all, He came so that everyone—good and evil (from our perspective)—”may have life and have it more abundantly.” He came so that we may have life. This is absolutely crucial because both good and evil individuals can choose to accept or reject life, close themselves off from hope, or become a person of hope.

One may do so for comfort, while the other may do so due to their sinfulness. There may be various reasons for this behavior, but the fact remains that resignation towards life and hope poses a danger for everyone. It’s not about how long we can be “sinless,” how strong we are, or how much good we can extract. It is about how often we have fallen into sin and neglected our resolutions. It is about never stopping, living, and desiring life. And we can and should do this—whether as “sinners” or as “righteous.” The Father has taken care of such issues for us through his Son, Jesus.

Come to the depths: How do I look at myself and the people around me—have I not put on “black and white” glasses of morality, through which I see very clearly “black and white,” good and bad people? When was the last time I glorified and praised God for His patience and generosity, for continually inviting me into the fullness of life, love, joy, and hope? Is it enough for me to be “good,” or do I want to live a life in the Spirit?

Tip for you: Today, I will not pass judgments—neither on myself nor on others.

Lucia, virgin and m.

CURRICULUM VITAE

She came from Syracuse. Against her will, her parents promised her to a rich young pagan. Her mother, only after her recovery through the intercession of St. Agatha, reconciled with Lucia’s wish to live a celibate life dedicated to Christ. However, her fiancé disagreed. During Diocletian’s persecution, he denounced her as a Christian. She was sentenced to forced prostitution, and because she was saved from it by miraculous power, she was allegedly blinded and her throat was pierced.

Her veneration spread throughout the Church by the end of the 6th century, with her name included in the Roman canon of the Mass. Her tomb was discovered during the exploration of the catacombs in Syracuse.

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“SVETLANA” FROM SICILY

She is one of the saints included in the first Eucharistic Prayer of the Holy Mass. Pope Gregory the Great included her in the canon around the end of the 6th century.

Biographies are based on traditional accounts, the oldest documents about her worship, archaeological finds in the catacombs of St. Lucy and St. John in Syracuse, and biographical records dating back to the 6th century. Today’s biographies of St. Lucy often incorporate elements from various legends, necessitating careful consideration.

She was born in Syracuse, Sicily, probably before 290 AD, into a better-off family. Perhaps as a child, as a Christian girl, she made a vow of virginal purity out of love for Christ, to which she remained faithful under all circumstances.

Her mother, Eutychia, either did not know about the promise or did not take it seriously. She wanted to marry her to a suitor from an equally noble family, and the problem she would rather not see was in the world. Lucy put everything into prayer, but her mother’s conversion in that direction did not come. Lucy probably hoped for the help of the revered martyr Agatha. She convinced her sick mother, suffering from a flow of blood, to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of this saint, from whom she expected help. According to tradition, their joint pilgrimage and the help from St. Agatha took place. Legends tell of a vision or dream of Lucy, in which Agatha let her know that both her mother’s recovery and her martyrdom would occur.

After the mother’s sudden recovery, the only problem left was the unwanted fiancé. He was understandably interested in why he was rejected, and the legends here are distorted. The true reason for the rejection ultimately resulted in Lucia being brought before a judge, perhaps because the fiancé could not bear the truth. The judge’s task was to break her loyalty to God and punish her according to the circumstances.

Legends state the topics of the judge Paschasius’s questions and Lucy’s answers, first leading to the matter of the dowry, which Lucy allegedly managed to distribute to the poor. She is also said to have convinced her mother to take a similar step, although she wanted to keep her property until her death. The decisive sentence is: “He who gives God only what he cannot take with him to eternity when he dies has no merit from it, but if you want to make a sacrifice pleasing to God, give (his poor) what you can enjoy now.” It is the topic of a catechetical teaching, similar to Lucy’s emphatic stance on the issue of obedience to imperial decrees. Here, Lucy declares that she is first and foremost obedient to God’s commandments. And she reminds the judge that he fears mortal rulers, while she fears (the insult) of the eternal God.

At the end of Lucy’s defense, she is partly asked to repeat the words of the Apostle Paul about the purity of the soul, the body in which the Holy Spirit dwells and is therefore the temple of God. (Cf. 1 Cor 6:19). All this is recalled to create an image of Lucy’s attitude that led to her torture. This determination is captured in the words with which she replied to her executioner: “You will not force me by anything to consent to the sin of impurity. I am ready for any suffering.” (see G. Pettinati, I Santi canonizzati, XII)

Lucy was sentenced to be forcibly deprived of her virginity by visitors to a brothel. However, her rape did not occur because all attempts to transport Lucy there failed. Even the oxen, which later became associated with her, did not provide any assistance. Subsequently, legends describe various tortures that she had to undergo. The reliability of these data is questionable; what is certain is that she suffered a martyr’s death, and it is believed that she was stabbed with a sword or dagger, according to tradition, in the neck.

Her eyes on a bowl are a distinctive attribute of St. Lucy, which is why we give them special attention here. Later legends may have influenced the inclusion of this personal attribute. However, they are inconsistent. They say that Lucy herself plucked them out and sent them to her fiancé. Here, the reasons for the implausible act differ: so that he would renounce her, after which the eyes were returned to her by the Mother of God; elsewhere, the plucking out of her eyes is listed just before Lucy’s death and their donation to her fiancé because he admired them on her, with thanks for helping her to heaven. Contrary to the claims of other scholars, Msgr. Prof. Dr. Jaroslav Němec, who studies saints, writes about Lucy in his work New Profiles of Saints (2005), stating that she was eventually blinded and pierced.

Her name is derived from the Latin word “lux—lucis,” meaning “light,” and is translated as “Svetlana.” It is also the name of the youngest members of scouting—fireflies, who see her as their patron saint and want to strive to be a light and role model for others like her.

Lucia’s remains were first moved to Constantinople in 1039 (due to fears of Muslim attacks) and then to the Church of St. Jeremiah and Lucia in Venice in 1204. Parts of them were transferred to Syracuse. The reliquary with her eyes is kept in Naples.

(*More information about St. Lucia’s Day in the note.)

RESOLUTION, PRAYER

Being a light to others should not be a task just for fireflies but for every Christian. The biography provides a clue on how to do it. And for my life, I will make a concrete decision today.

Hear, O God, our prayers, and through the intercession of the holy virgin and martyr Lucy, whose birth into heaven we celebrate today, grant that your glory may be revealed to us. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.