St. John of Kanty, also known as John Cantius (1390–1473), was a priest and professor at the University of Kraków in Poland, famous for his learning, his humility and his boundless generosity to the poor, to whom he gave away almost everything he had. He made four pilgrimages to Rome on foot and one to Jerusalem. He is a patron saint of Poland and of teachers and students, and his feast day is December 23. Below are his story, the prayer of his feast, and prayers to St. John of Kanty.
A short prayer to St. John of Kanty, written for this page:
St. John of Kanty, you joined great learning to great charity.
Pray for teachers and students, for the poor and the hungry,
and help me to give generously and speak kindly of everyone. Amen.
Who was St. John of Kanty?
John was born in 1390 in the small town of Kęty, near Kraków, from which he takes his name. He studied at the University of Kraków (today the Jagiellonian University), was ordained a priest, and spent most of his life there as a professor of philosophy and Sacred Scripture. For a short time he served as a parish priest in Olkusz, but feeling unequal to the care of souls, he returned to teaching.
He lived in great simplicity, slept little and ate no meat. He gave his money, his clothes and even his own meals to the poor; it was said that he once gave his coat and shoes to a beggar and walked home barefoot, with his long cloak hiding his bare feet. He made four pilgrimages to Rome on foot, carrying his belongings on his back, and one to the Holy Land. He was known for refusing to speak ill of anyone, and for defending the reputations of others. He died on December 24, 1473, at about eighty-three, and was canonized in 1767.
The prayer of his feast in the 1916 missal:
Grant, we beseech thee, O almighty God, that after the example of the holy Confessor John, by advancing in the knowledge of holy things and showing mercy to others, we may through his merits obtain thy indulgence. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.
What is St. John of Kanty the patron saint of?
St. John of Kanty is the patron saint of:
- Poland and Lithuania
- Teachers, professors and students, especially at Polish universities
- The poor, and those who serve them
- Pilgrims
Many parishes and schools founded by Polish immigrants in America are named after St. John Cantius, including St. John Cantius Church in Chicago.
Prayers to St. John of Kanty
Written for this page.
For students and teachers
St. John of Kanty, you loved the truth and taught it for fifty years.
Pray for teachers and students, that they may seek wisdom humbly,
study diligently, and use what they learn in the service of others. Amen.
For charity in speech
St. John of Kanty, you would not let anyone be slandered in your presence.
Guard my tongue from gossip and criticism,
and help me to defend the good name of others. Amen.
Feast day
The optional memorial of St. John of Kanty, priest, is December 23. Before 1969 his feast was kept on October 20.
Frequently asked questions
Who was St. John of Kanty?
A Polish priest and professor at the University of Kraków in the fifteenth century, famous for his charity to the poor.
Is St. John Cantius the same as St. John of Kanty?
Yes. “Cantius” is the Latin form of “Kanty,” from his hometown of Kęty.
When is St. John of Kanty’s feast day?
December 23.
More saints
- Patron saint of teachers
- Our Lady of Częstochowa
- St. John Paul II prayer
- Works of mercy
- Saint of the day
- Saint feast days
Texts and sources
- The Mass Every Day of the Year (1916), St. John Cantius (October 20), Collect, public domain (archive.org).
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “St. John Cantius,” public domain (Wikisource).