Blessed John of Alvernia
Blessed John of Alvernia (Italian: Giovanni della Verna; born 1259 AD in Fermo, Marche, Italy; died August 9, 1322 AD at La Verna, Tuscany, Italy) was an Italian Franciscan friar and mystic renowned for his contemplative life on the holy mountain of La Verna, the site of Saint Francis's stigmata. He is venerated as a Blessed of the Franciscan Order. His feast day is August 9.
Entering the Friars Minor as a boy, John gave himself to prayer and penance and was favored with extraordinary mystical graces, especially a profound devotion to the Passion of Christ and to the Blessed Sacrament. His holiness drew many to seek his counsel. His cult was confirmed in 1880.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed John of Alvernia
| Blessed John of Alvernia | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 09 |
| Profession | Franciscan friar (Friars Minor); mystic; preacher |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) |
| Patronage | Contemplatives; mystics; the sanctuary of La Verna |
| Attributes | Franciscan habit; La Verna; ecstasy in prayer; devotion to the Passion |
| Birthplace | Fermo, Marche, Italy |
| Death Place | La Verna, Tuscany, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; Franciscan friar and mystic; died at the sanctuary of La Verna after a life of contemplation |
| Primary Shrine | Sanctuary of La Verna, Tuscany, Italy |
Biography
Giovanni della Verna was born in 1259 at Fermo in the Marche of Italy. While still a boy he entered the Order of Friars Minor, the Franciscans, and from the beginning he was drawn to a life of intense prayer, solitude, and penance.
He is especially associated with La Verna, the mountain sanctuary in the Tuscan Apennines where Saint Francis of Assisi had received the stigmata in 1224. There John devoted himself to contemplation, and he was renowned for the mystical graces granted to him: raptures and ecstasies, an ardent love of the Passion of Christ, and a burning devotion to the Holy Eucharist. It was recorded that he sometimes fell into ecstasy while celebrating or receiving the Blessed Sacrament.
Though a contemplative, John also preached and gave spiritual counsel, and many, including some of the leading men of his day, sought him out. His life and graces are recounted in the *Little Flowers of Saint Francis* (Fioretti), which devotes several chapters to him.
John of Alvernia died at La Verna on August 9, 1322. He was long venerated as a Blessed, and his cult was confirmed by Pope Leo XIII in 1880. His feast is kept on August 9.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: None
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to John of Alvernia have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
August 9
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.