John of Kanti
John of Kanti (1390–1473), priest. Born at Kanti, near Oswiecim (Poland), of a fairly affluent country family, he was educated at the University of Cracow. He was ordained priest soon after completing his course and was appointed lecturer. He was notably successful as both teacher and preacher, but for some reason he was removed from his post and appointed to the parish of Olkusz. Although single-minded and energetic, he was not altogether successful and he was recalled to the Chair of Theology at Cracow after a few years.
He became famous not only for his academic excellence, but also for his own extreme poverty and austerity, as well as for his almsgiving. He told his students to fight all false opinions, but to do so with moderation and courtesy. He was held in such high esteem that his gown was used, on degree days, to vest each new doctor of the University. He died on 24 December at the age of eighty-three. He was canonized in 1767. Feast: 23 December.
Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.
- AA.SS. Oct. VIII (1853), 1042–73; A. Arndt, ‘De loco et anno nativiatis…S. Iohannis Kant’, Anal. Boll., vii (1889), 382–8; Prophylaeum, pp. 464–5; B.L.S., xii. 174; Bibl. SS., vi. 644–5
