Saint of the Day Online - St. John of Sahagun

Saint of the Day for Monday, June 12, 2017

Saint Name: St. John of Sahagún
Place: Sahagún, Province of Leon
Birth: 1419
Death: 11 June 1479
Feast: 12 June

St. John of Sahagún born on 24 June 1419 was a Spanish Augustinian friar and priest. He was a leading preacher regarding social behavior of his day. He has been declared a saint by the Catholic Church.

He was educated by the Benedictine monks of Fagondez monastery there and when twenty, received a canonry from the bishop of Burgos, though he already had several benefices. He was ordained in 1445; concerned about the evil of pluralism, he resigned all his benefices except that of St. Agatha in Burgos. 

Possessing all of these offices simultaneously caused González many qualms of conscience, as it was contrary to Church law. He soon resigned all, retaining only that of the Chapel of St. Agatha in a poor neighborhood of the city, where he said Mass, preached and the faith to the poor. He then began to lead a life of strict poverty and mortification.

With his bishop's consent, González obtained permission to enter the University of Salamanca, where for four years he applied himself to the study of theology. During this time he exercised the ministry at the chapel of the College of St. Bartholomew (in the Parish of St Sebastian) and held that position for nine years. He devoted himself to pastoral care. Owing to illness, he was obliged to undergo an operation for the removal of kidney stones. He vowed that if his life were spared, he would become a Religious.

Upon his recovery in the year 1463, González applied for admission to the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine, at the Monastery of St. Peter, from that point on, being known simply as Brother (or Friar) John. In the following year, on August 28, 1464, John made his profession of solemn vows as a member of the Order.

By the command of his superiors, John gave himself wholeheartedly to the salvation of souls, and with the best results, to preaching the "Word of God." By his zeal, he was able to effect the entire reformation of the city of Salamanca.
John made such progress in religious perfection that he was soon appointed the master of novices, and later in the year 1471, prior of the community. He conducted the Religious under his rule more by example than by his words.

He died at Sahagun on June 11, reportedly poisoned by the mistress of a man he had convinced to leave her. He was canonized in 1690 as St. John of Sahagun. His feast day is June 12th.