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 JOHN

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JOHN

Fran., Ill (Quaracchi, 1897), 219, 247: Jordanus of Giano, Chronica in Analecta Franciscana, I (Quaracchi, 1885), 18; Trithemius, Scriptores Ecclesmstici, 459; Monumenta Francis- cana, ed. Brewer. I (London, 1858), 628; Oodinds, Commen- tarius de Scrip, ecclesiasticis. III (Leipzig, 1722), 160-61; Wadding, Anrmles Minorum (Rome, 1650), ad ann. 1222, 1242, 1253, 1271; Wadding-Sbaralea, Suppleinentum ad Scriptores (Rome, 1806); Denifle, Chart, univers. Paris. I (Paris, 1889), 158, 187 ; Dadnou in Hist. lilt. France, XIX (Paris, 1838), 171-3; DoMENlCHELLi, Suinma de anima (Prato, 1S82); Du BooLAT, Hist. Univers. Parisiensis, III (Paris, 1666), ad an. 1238; Felder, Geschichte der wissenxchaftlichen Studien im Framiskanerorden (Freiburg im Br., 1904); Feret, La FacuUc de Thcol. de Paris, I (Paris, 1894), 324-31 ; Haureau in Hist, de la philosophic scolaslique (Paris, 1880), pt. II, I, x; H. P. D., Fratris ac magistri J. a Rupella ex eo libra cui " Sujnma de Anima" titulus, psycholofficam doctrina-m exprompsU (Milan, 1875) ; Jeiler in Kirchenlex., s. v. Johannes von La Rochelle; DE La Marche, La Chaire Fran^aise au moycn 6ge (Paris, 1868), 517; Luguet, Essai d'analyse et de critique sur le teite inedii du Traite de Vdme de Jean de la Rochelle (Paris, 1875).

Brendan Jennings.

John of Sahagun, Saint, hermit, b. 1419, at Sa- hagun (or ,Saii Fagomlez) in the lungdom of Leon, in Spain; d. 11 .luno, 1479, at Salamanca; feast 12 June. In art he is represented liolding a chalice and host sur- rounded by rays of light. John, the oldest of seven children, was born of pious and respected parents, John Gonzalez de Castrillo and Sancia Martinez. He received his first education from the Benedictines of his native place. According to the custom of the times, his father procured for him the benefice of the neighbouring parish Dornillos, but this caused John many qualms of conscience. He was later introduced to Alfonso de Cartagena, Bishop of Burgos (1435- 1456) who took a fancy to the bright, high-spirited boy, had him educated at his own residence, gave him several prebends, ordained liim priest in 1445, and made him canon at the cathedral. Out of conscien- tious respect for the laws of the Church, John resigned all and retained only the chaplaincy of St. Agatha, where he laboured zealously for the salvation of souls.

Finding that a more thorough knowledge of theol- ogy would be beneficial, he obtained permission to en- ter the University of Salamanca, made a four years' course, and merited his degree in divinity. During this time he exercised the sacred ministry at the chapel of the College of St. Bartholomew (parish of St. Sebastian), and held the position for nine years. He was then obliged to undergo an operation for stone, and during his illness vowed that if his life were spared, he would become a religious. On his recovery in 1463, he applied for admission to the Order of Her- mits of St. Augu-stine, at the church of St. Peter, at Salamanca, and on 2S Aug., 1464, he made his profes- sion.

He made such progress in religious perfection that he was soon appointed master of novices, and in 1471 prior of the community. Great was his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and at Mass he frequently saw the Sacred Host resplendent in glory. He was gifted with special power to penetrate the secrets of conscience, so that it was not easy to deceive him, and sinners were almost forced to make good confessions; he obtained wonderful results in doing away with enmities and feuds. In his sermons he, like another St. John the Baptist, fearlessly preached the word of God and scourged the crimes and vices of the day, though thereby the rich and noble were offended. He soon made many enemies, who even hired assassins, but these, awed by the serenity and angelic sweetness of his countenance, lost courage. Some women of Sala- manca, embittered by the saint's strong sermon against extravagance in dress, openly insulted him in the streets and pelted him with stones until stopped by a patrol of guards. His scathing words on impurity produced salutary effects in a certain nobleman who had been living in open concubinage, but the woman Bwore vengeance, and it was popularly believed that

she caused the saint's death by poison (tliis statement is found only in later biographies). Soon after death his veneration spread in Spain.

The process of beatification began in 1525, and in 1601 he was declared Blessed. New miracles were WTOught at his intercession, and on 16 Oct., 1696, Alex- ander VIII entered his name in the list of canonized saints. Benedict XIII fixed his feast for 12 June. His relics are found in Spain, Belgium, and Peru. His hfe written by John of Seville towards the end of the fifteenth century, with additions in 1605 and 1619, is used by the Bollandists in "Acta SS.", Jun., Ill, 112.

Butler, Lives of the Saints, 12 June; Stadler in Heiligenlexi- con; Baumer in Kirchenlexicon, s. v. Johannes a S. Facundo ; BlHLMEYER in BucHBERGER, Kirchliches Handlezicon, s. v. Johannes a S. Facundo ; Ossikger, Biblioth. Augustin. (Ingo!- stadt, 1768-76), 477-79; de Castro in Rev. Agustin., XII (1886), 525-30.

Francis Mebshman.

John of Salisbury (Johannes de Saresberia, surnamed Parvus), b. about 1115; d. 1180; a dis- tinguished pliilosopher, historian, churchman, and scholar. Born near Salisliury, he went at an early age to Paris, where he studied arts and philosophy (1136-38) under Peter Al)elard, Alberic of Reims, and Robert of Melun; then under William of Conches, Richard I'Eveque, and Theoderic of Chartres at the famous school at this latter town (1138—40); finally again at Paris, completing his studies in theology under Gilbert de La Porr6e, Robert Pullus, and Simon of Poissy (1141-45). This solid education, under such brilliant masters, he perfected by some private teach- ing, perhaps with his lifelong friend Peter, Abbot of Moutier La Celle, nearTroyes, with whom he was living in 114S. At the Council of Reims in this year, he was introduced to TheobaUl, Archbishop of Canterbury, by St. Bernard. After spending a few years at the papal Court at Rome, whither he went from Reims with Pope Eugene III, he returned to England and acted as private secretary to Theobald for several years, during which period he was repeatedly sent on delicate and important diplomatic missions to the Holy See; in 1159 he had "ten times crossed the Alps on his road from England " (Metalogicus, iii, prol., p. 113).

He was thus brought into intimate relations with princes and popes, especially with Henry II and his chancellor, Thomas k Becket, and with Pope Adrian IV, also an Englishman. In defending the rights of the Church, he incurred the king's dis- pleasure in 1159 — when his forced seclusion enabled him to complete his two principal works, the " Poli- craticus" and the "Metalogicus", both dedicated to Thomas h. Becket — and again in 1163, when he was obliged to quit England. The next six years he spent with his friend Peter of La Celle, now Abbot of St. Remigius at Reims. Here he wrote " Historia Pontificalis ". Thomas k Becket, who had succeeded Theobald as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, was soon obliged to follow John into exile. The latter steadily endeavoured to promote the cause of peace between the English king on the one hand and his archbishop and the Holy See on the other. Apparent success crowned those efforts in 1170, when both exiles returned. In a few months (29 Dec.) John witnessed the tragic murder of the saintly archbishop in the cathedral at Canterbury. In 1174 John be- came treasurer of Exeter cathedral. In 1176 he was appointed Bishop of Chartres. He attended the Third Lateran Council in 1179 and died the next year. He was interred in the monastery of St. Josaphat, near Chartres.

John of Salisbury was one of the most cultured scholars of his day. Notwithstanding the engrossing cares of his diplomatic career, his great learning and indefatigable industry enabled him to carry on an