John de Montmirail
Encyclopedia
John de Montmirail O.S.B. Cist. (1165 – 29 September 1217) was a French nobleman who became a Cistercian monk. He is venerated as a beatus
in the Catholic Church.
While young he embraced a military career and was presented at the Royal Court, where he formed a lasting friendship with Philip Augustus, later King of France. On one occasion, John was even said to have saved the Philip's life. The dissipations of court life led him to neglect the training of his youth; even his marriage with Helvide de Dampierre, failed to effect a change.
In his thirtieth year he met Jobert, Prior of St-Etienne de Montmirail, and experienced a conversion. He built an hospital for the sick of all kinds, but the objects of his predilection were the lepers, and those hopelessly afflicted. He wore a hair-shirt, frequently passing entire nights in prayer. After a while, he entered the Cistercian monastery of Longpont
, after having distributed among the poor all his possessions not needed by his wife and family. He was abused for his decision by his former friends. Even members of his own family disapproved of his abandonment of honour and wealth for poverty and subjection.
He died at Longpont
on 29 September 1217.
granted a special office in his honour for the diocese of Soissons
. He was beatified in 1891. His feast is celebrated on 29 September.
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
in the Catholic Church.
Life
John was the son of Andrew, Lord of Montmirail and Ferté-Gaucher, and Hildiarde d'Oisy. He was given a religious upbringing by his mother, and was well educated.While young he embraced a military career and was presented at the Royal Court, where he formed a lasting friendship with Philip Augustus, later King of France. On one occasion, John was even said to have saved the Philip's life. The dissipations of court life led him to neglect the training of his youth; even his marriage with Helvide de Dampierre, failed to effect a change.
In his thirtieth year he met Jobert, Prior of St-Etienne de Montmirail, and experienced a conversion. He built an hospital for the sick of all kinds, but the objects of his predilection were the lepers, and those hopelessly afflicted. He wore a hair-shirt, frequently passing entire nights in prayer. After a while, he entered the Cistercian monastery of Longpont
Longpont Abbey
Longpont Abbey was a Cistercian monastery, in present-day Longpont, Aisne, France.It existed from 1131 to 1793, being founded by monks from the abbey of Clairvaux, at the behest of Jocelin of Soissons. There is now a hotel on the site...
, after having distributed among the poor all his possessions not needed by his wife and family. He was abused for his decision by his former friends. Even members of his own family disapproved of his abandonment of honour and wealth for poverty and subjection.
He died at Longpont
Longpont
Longpont is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-See also:*Longpont Abbey*List of medieval bridges in France*Communes of the Aisne department...
on 29 September 1217.
Veneration
Miracles were said to be wrought at his tomb, and attracted pilgrims. By the 1230s, John was being venerated as a miracle-working saint. Pope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
granted a special office in his honour for the diocese of Soissons
Roman Catholic Diocese of Soissons
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Soissons is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church, in France. The diocese is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Reims and corresponds, with the exception of two hamlets, to the entire Department of Aisne. The current bishop is Hervé Jean Robert Giraud,...
. He was beatified in 1891. His feast is celebrated on 29 September.