St. John Neumann, Bishop

John Neumann was born in 1811 in Bohemia (Now known as the Czech Republic) to Philip and Agnes Neumann. An excellent student, John early felt drawn to religious life. As a seminarian at Budweis, Bohemia, he studied astronomy and botany in addition to theological topics. He studied theology at Charles Ferdinand University at Prague in 1833.

When his ordination date arrived, the Bishop was ill and the date was never rescheduled, as Bohemia had an over-abundance of priests at that time. John decided to go to the United States to seek ordination there. He walked most of the way to France, then took a ship to the United States.

He arrived in New York in 1836, and Bishop John Dubois was elated to see him as there were only 36 priests for the 200,000 Catholics in New York and New Jersey. After being ordained, John Neumann was sent to minister to the German speaking immigrants who were clearing the forests by Niagara Falls.

In 1840, he entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). He was consecrated Bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. As bishop, he organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, increasing the number of pupils almost twentyfold within a short time. He was responsible for the building of 100 churches and 80 schools. He also wrote two catechisms and many newspaper articles. He prescribed Forty Hour devotions.

John died in Philadelphia at the age of 49 in 1860. He was cannonized on June 17, 1977 by Pope Paul XVI and was the first male canonized saint from the United States.

Quote:
"A man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it."

~ St. John Neumann

Prayer

O Saint John Neumann, your ardent desire of bringing all souls to Christ impelled you to leave home and country; teach us to live worthily in the spirit of our Baptism which makes us all children of the one Heavenly Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, the first-born of the family of God. Obtain for us that complete dedication in the service of the needy, the weak, the afflicted and the abandoned which so characterized your life. Help us to walk perseveringly in the difficult and, at times, painful paths of duty, strengthened by the Body and Blood of our Redeemer and under the watchful protection of Mary our Mother. May death still find us on the sure road to our Father's House with the light of living Faith in our hearts. Amen.

(adapted from an earlier post)