Saint’s Life Story

His Early Life

Giovanni (John) was born to a family of nobles in Matera, a town in the Basilicata region of Italy, around 1070. When he was still a boy, already wishing to consecrate his life entirely to God, John secretly left his family. When he had left the splendor of his home, John had exchanged his luxurious clothes for those of a poor man, similar to the gesture of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Benedictine Monk

John asked for hospitality in a Basilian monastery on the Italian islet of San Pietro (opposite Taranto), tending sheep and practicing strict asceticism. Due to some misunderstandings with the monks, John left the islet. He lived for a couple of years in Calabria and Sicily, leading a life of solitude, penance and renunciation. He takes refuge in caves, living as a hermit feeding on herbs and wild fruits and taking a vow of silence for two years.

Apulia to Ginosa

John remained there for two years before moving to Apulia, where he stayed with relatives. In his continuous wandering , John returned to his birthplace, stopping for some time in Ginosa, on the border with Basilicata, where he founded a small monastic community. Here, he made himself known as a preacher in the area, attracting the admiration of many.

Imprisoned and Freed

However, John also made many enemies by his upright life, including being persecuted by Count Roberto di Chiaromonte, who had him imprisoned for greed. He was eventually imprisoned because of false lies. After being miraculously freed from his chains, John wandered for several months in the South until he reached Capua.

Met Saint William of Vercelli

On the mountains of Irpinia in Bagnoli, Italy, John met Saint William of Vercelli, who led a hermit life with some disciples. John stayed with them until he had a vision that indicated their opposite paths for both, but always in Southern Italy. In fact, John worked in Puglia while Saint William would later found the monastery and sanctuary of Montevergine.

“Miracle of Water”

John wanted to go to Palestine to visit the Holy Land. Around 1127 while passing through the town of Bari in the Puglia (or Apulia) region, John realized that his mission understands that his mission is in Italy. John preaches and speaks of Jesus. His incessant walking takes him to the vicinity of Monte Sant’Angelo on Mounte Gargano, Italy in the province of Foggia. Here, the sanctuary dedicated to the Saint Michael the Archangel stands, the subject of the revelations at the end of the 5th century to Saint Laurence Majoranus.

Here, John performs the famous “miracle of water”. It hasn’t rained in the Tavoliere della Puglia for a long time and the drought puts the harvest at risk. Through John’s intercession and prayer, the long-awaited rain arrives.

Founded New Order

Here, around 1130, near Pulsano, Italy in a solitary valley, John started a new community with six disciples called the Order of Saint John of Pulsano (also known as the Hermits of Saint William). The Pulsano monks followed the Benedictine Rule with a strong concentration on manual labor.

In six months, the community had grown from six to sixty monks and acquired great fame. The monastic congregation known as the “Scalzi” grew in size, receiving bequests and land. So, another house was opened near the church of Saint James in Foggia and then a monastery in Meleda in Dalmatia opposite the coast of the Gargano.

John’s alternate name, John of Pulsano, comes from his foundation of the monastery of Saint Mary of Pulsano. At this monastery, John was elected as its first abbot.

His Death

John died in the Foggia, Italy on June 20, 1139. He was laid to rest in a niche in a cave within the church at Saint Mary of Pulsano Abbey. In 1830, his relics were translated to Matera Cathedral in an artistic urn, where they remain in Matera, Italy. Then, in 1939, his relics enshrined in a new sarcophagus.

Saint John of Matera is often portrayed as an abbot driving the devil away with a rod.

Born:                   Around 1070 in Matera, Italy

Died:                    June 20, 1139 in Foggia, Italy

Beatified:            Unknown

Canonized:         1177 by Pope Alexander III

Feast Day:           June 20

Patron Saint:     Cathedral of Matera, Italy; Hermits

Source:

• • CatholicSaints.Info » Saint John of Pulsano
  • Saint John of Matera – Daily Compass
  • Saint John of Pulsano – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
  • St. San Giovanni from Matera, Abbot – Santi e Beati (translated from Italian)
  • John of Matera – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

Saint of the day of June 20 | St. John of Matera – YouTube Video (Saints of Everyday)