Blessed John of Valence
Blessed John of Valence (French: Jean de Valence; died 1146 AD in Valence, France) was a French Cistercian monk who became abbot of Bonnevaux and afterward Bishop of Valence. Formed in the reformed monastic life of Cîteaux, he governed his diocese in the spirit of the Gregorian reform. He is venerated as a Blessed of the Cistercian Order. His feast day is observed on April 26.
A monk of Cîteaux and later abbot of Bonnevaux, John was reluctantly drawn from the cloister to become Bishop of Valence, where he combined pastoral zeal with monastic austerity. He is honored among the holy Cistercian bishops of the twelfth century.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed John of Valence
| Blessed John of Valence | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | April 26 |
| Profession | Cistercian monk; abbot of Bonnevaux; Bishop of Valence |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Cistercian Order |
| Patronage | The Diocese of Valence; Cistercian bishops |
| Attributes | Cistercian habit; bishop's mitre and crozier |
| Birthplace | Lyon region, France |
| Death Place | Valence, Drôme, France |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; Cistercian monk, abbot of Bonnevaux, and Bishop of Valence |
| Primary Shrine | Valence, Drôme, France |
Biography
John of Valence was a Frenchman of the region of Lyon who embraced the reformed monastic life of the Cistercian Order in its first great expansion in the twelfth century. He became a monk of Cîteaux, the mother house of the Order, and was formed in its ideals of poverty, work, and prayer.
He was chosen abbot of Bonnevaux, a Cistercian monastery in the Dauphiné, which he governed with wisdom and holiness. His reputation led to his being called to the episcopate: he was made Bishop of Valence, an office he accepted with reluctance, preferring the hidden life of the cloister.
As bishop, John continued to live in monastic simplicity while devoting himself to the reform and care of his diocese, in the spirit of the Gregorian renewal of the Church. He was known for his charity to the poor and his zeal for the discipline of the clergy.
John of Valence died in 1146. He was venerated as a Blessed of the Cistercian Order, and his feast is observed on April 26.
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Feast day
April 26
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