St. John Cantius Novena

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St. John Cantius was a Polish priest who lived in the 1300-1400s. He was well-known for his virtue and knowledge. He is also known for bringing about many miracles during his lifetime and after his death.

You can use this novena to ask for intercession from this saintly priest!

About St. John Cantius

St. John Cantius was born in a small town called Kenty in Poland. His parents, Stanislaus and Anne, were pious and lived simply.

As a young boy, John received his primary education in his hometown. His parents then sent him to the Academy of Krakow. He studied philosophy and theology, and he eventually became a Doctor of Philosophy. Then he spent three years teaching philosophy and studying to become a priest.

During this time, John impressed both his professors and his classmates with his holy and happy demeanor. He was pleasant, cheerful, and humble. The medieval Polish historian Michael Miechowita who wrote a biography of St. John Cantius describes him as extremely humble and charitable.

After he was ordained a priest, John was appointed as a rector at the school of the Canons Regular of the Most Holy Sepulcher in Miechow. For a short time, he served as a parish priest in the diocese of Krakow. But he did not enjoy this position because he feared the heavy responsibility the role called for.

Then, he became a professor of Biblical theology at the Academy of Krakow. Eventually, John obtained a Doctorate in theology and became the director of the school’s theology department. He spent a great amount of his time copying Biblical manuscripts and theological tracts.

John was also skilled in the academic field of physics. He contributed to the development of Jean Buridan’s theory of impetus to explain projectile motion against gravity.

Throughout his time as a priest and professor in Krakow, John’s reputation for holiness was well-known. He was particularly generous and compassionate toward the poor he encountered.

He made a point of assisting needy students at the university. He gave away his own money and clothes, keeping only what was strictly necessary to support himself. John also slept very little, ate only sparing amounts, and fasted from meat at all times. He made four pilgrimages to Rome on foot. He also made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, hoping to become a martyr amidst the hostilities of the Turks.

St. John Cantius performed various miracles while he was still living. After his death, many more miracles have been granted to those who have visited his tomb and sought his intercession.

John died at age eighty-three while he was living at the university in retirement. He was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII.

St. John Cantius’ Feast Day:  December 23rd

Why Pray the St. John Cantius Novena?

St. John Cantius is the patron saint of Poland and of Lithuania. You can seek his intercession if you live in Poland or Lithuania, or for someone you know who lives there.

St. John Cantius is also the patron saint of Jagiellonian University (as his alma mater is now named), so students at Jagiellonian University can certainly seek his intercession as well.

All students can turn to him for prayers, as he spent much of his life working in academia. Since he worked particularly in the fields of philosophy, theology, and physics, he can be a great patron saint for anyone studying or working in those fields!

You can pray the St. John Cantius Novena for any intention!

St. John Cantius Novena Prayers

St. John Cantius Novena - Day 1

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your priest, St. John Cantius, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the openness to Your will that he showed in responding generously to Your call to serve You in the priesthood.

St. John Cantius, you grew up in a pious, simple household. You carried on your life as an adult in the same pious spirit. It was not long before you answered God’s call to serve Him in the priesthood.

Pray that all who are called to a religious vocation may respond generously!

You lived out your vocation as a priest for the rest of your life. You persevered in virtue and holiness throughout your years as a teacher.

Pray for me, that I may be as faithful in my own vocation as you were.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. John Cantius, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. John Cantius Novena - Day 2

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your priest, St. John Cantius, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed throughout the many years that he remained faithful to his vocation as a priest.

St. John Casius, you lived most of your life serving God in the priesthood. Though you were fearful of the responsibilities inherent in the life of a parish priest, you utilized your strengths to serve God as a priest in the academic world.

Pray that all priests may serve God worthily!

As a priest, you did not satisfy yourself with merely fulfilling the requirements of your state in life. Instead, you sought to grow in virtue and charity. You impressed all who knew you with your holy and happy demeanor.

Pray for me, that I may serve God to the best of my abilities.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. John Cantius, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. John Cantius Novena - Day 3

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your priest, St. John Cantius, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed throughout his many years as a student and teacher of philosophy.

St. John Cantius, you spent most of your life serving God virtuously in the priesthood. Throughout many of those years, you were a teacher. Rather than allowing the pursuit of knowledge to become your end, you sought to use your time in this profession to practice charity and holiness.

Pray that I may never miss the opportunity to practice virtue!

You used your position as a teacher to help everyone you encountered who was in need. You never hesitated to give of your excess, and you kept only what you needed to subsist.

Pray for me, that I may be generous and open to serving God in whatever ways He presents to me.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. John Cantius, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. John Cantius Novena - Day 4

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your priest, St. John Cantius, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed throughout his many years of study and instruction in theology.

St. John Cantius, you spent many years of your life studying and teaching in the field of theology. You studied Church teaching diligently for years in preparation to serve God in the priesthood. As a priest, you used your knowledge of God and of His Church to faithfully serve Him.

Pray that I may serve God faithfully in my own vocation!

You spent many years of your priesthood instructing others in the faith. As a professor of theology, you dedicated yourself to faithfully instructing others in the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Pray for me, that I may increase both my knowledge and my love for God.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. John Cantius, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. John Cantius Novena - Day 5

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your priest, St. John Cantius, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the holiness he showed during his time working in the field of physics.

St. John Cantius, you were studious and academically inclined from a young age. As you pursued your vocation to the priesthood and grew in virtue, you sought to grow intellectually as well.

Pray that I may always seek to grow in every way possible, in order to serve God more fully!

You did not content yourself with the knowledge you had already gained but instead continued your learning in new areas. Your work in developing the theory of impetus helped others after you to know more of the way in which God designed creation.

Pray for me, that I may glorify God in my work at every opportunity.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. John Cantius, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. John Cantius Novena - Day 6

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your priest, St. John Cantius, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the notable joy and cheerfulness that so impressed all those around him.

St. John Cantius, from the time you were a young man, you impressed those around you with your joy and your humility. Your reputation for cheerfulness, humility and holiness was well-known among your classmates and your professors.

Pray that I may spread joy to all I meet, as you did!

As you carried on your life as a student, and later as a professor and a priest, you never lost sight of the virtuous, pious lifestyle you had always lived. You remained virtuous and joyful throughout your whole life.

Pray for me, that I may persevere in joy throughout my entire life.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. John Cantius, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. John Cantius Novena - Day 7

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your priest, St. John Cantius, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the charity he showed in his acts of generosity toward the poor he encountered.

St. John Cantius, you never sought to amass wealth or possessions for yourself. Instead, you willingly gave away your own money and clothes to anyone you encountered who was in need.

Pray that I may be as selfless and as generous as you were!

You were so little concerned with material wealth that you kept for yourself only what was strictly necessary for your own survival. You knew that you were serving God in your charity toward your poor brothers and sisters.

Pray for me, that I always be conscious of the needs of those around me who are less fortunate than I.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. John Cantius, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. John Cantius Novena - Day 8

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your priest, St. John Cantius, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the spirit of penance he lived out throughout his many years as a priest.

St. John Cantius, you lived a penitential life as a priest. You often gave away your own money and clothes to others in need. You ate and slept very little, and you made pilgrimages to Rome on foot.

Pray that I may have as little care for material comforts as you did!

You must have known how important penance is for growth in the spiritual life. You practiced a spirit of penance faithfully for many years, as you grew in holiness.

Pray for me, that I may always be conscious of the need for penance in my own spiritual life.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. John Cantius, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. John Cantius Novena - Day 9

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your priest, St. John Cantius, as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he practiced throughout his many years as a priest in Your service.

St. John Cantius, you served God worthily as a priest in your home country of Poland for many years. You were known for your holiness, joyfulness, and humility. You persevered in these virtues throughout your whole life.

Pray that I may persevere in virtue as you did!

Through your works of charity and your penitential life, you built up the Body of Christ and served Him faithfully. God even used you as an instrument to perform miracles, both during your life and after your death.

Pray for me, that I may live as holy and virtuous a life as you did.

Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).

St. John Cantius, pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.