Beneath Mary's Mantle: Bl. John of Vercelli (c. 1200 - 1283)
St. Dominic once had a dream in which he saw all the saints of the Order safely beneath the mantle of Mary, Protectress of the Order of Preachers. In this blog series, we’ll introduce our beloved Dominican Saints, learn about their lives and work, and come to see how they still inspire and pass on their gifts to today’s faithful.
Patron of the Holy Name Society
Born: early 13th century, near Vercelli, Italy
Died: Nov 30, 1283 at Montpellier, France
Feast Day: Dec 1
John Garbella (known to us now as Blessed John of Vercelli) was born in the early thirteenth century in Vercelli, Italy. After moving to Paris, he was ordained a priest sometime before 1229 and began teaching canon law at the University of Paris. It was in the midst of this career that he first encountered the Dominican Order, when his students began flocking to the preaching of Blessed Jordan of Saxony. When he himself followed suit, John not only heard Blessed Jordan’s preaching but felt a personal call to join the Order of Preachers. In fact, some accounts say he responded with gusto to this call, running down the street and crying, “Let me go; I am on my way to God!”
This fervor to pursue God’s will took him to Lombardy, Italy, where he established several convents, served as provincial, and worked to strengthen his community against heretics. Eventually he was elected the sixth Master of the Order in 1264, a role which he would fill for two decades. His care for the Order was not only a great spiritual labor but also a physical one; during his ministry, Blessed John traveled across the whole of Europe on foot, despite a crippled leg. Perhaps his most enduring legacy arose from a commission he was given at the Council of Lyons in 1274: there, he was entrusted with the mission of promoting the Holy Name of Jesus. Blessed John fulfilled this commission with such fervor that he became the patron of the Holy Name Society, even though that society was not officially founded until 1432. As if in testament to his dedication to spread the Gospel all over the continent, Blessed John died on the road, in Montpellier, France on November 30, 1283.
John of Vercelli leaves us many admirable qualities to imitate: the dedication to study exemplified by his canon law career, an openness to the Holy Spirit, and a zeal for evangelization shown in his tireless preaching and travel, just to name a few. One trait that is easily imitated, and greatly needed in today’s day and age, is reverence for “the name that is above every name” (Phil 2:9), the Holy Name of Jesus. In a society that often flaunts the commandment to keep the Lord’s name holy, we can be inspired by Blessed John’s example of reverence at its utterance. This could be as simple as bowing one’s head when Jesus’ name is spoken, or saying a short mental prayer when the name is used irreverently. (Pope Sixtus V promoted the phrase “Praised be Jesus Christ” for this purpose.) Through Blessed John of Vercelli’s example, may we be brought to a greater reverence and love for our Savior.
Blessed John of Vercelli, pray for us!
