St. John Neumann
| Feast Day | January 5 |
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| Patronage |
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| Place of Birth | Prachatice, Bohemia, Austrian Empire (now Czech Republic) |
| Place of Death | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Canonization Date | June 19, 1977 |
Biography
St. John Neumann, born Johann Nepomuk Neumann, was a Bohemian-born priest, missionary, and bishop who left a lasting impact on the Catholic Church in the United States. Raised in a devout family, he excelled in academics, mastering multiple languages (German, Czech, Latin, Greek, French, Italian, Spanish, and later English and Gaelic). After completing seminary studies in Prague and Budweis, he faced a hurdle when his diocese halted ordinations due to an oversupply of priests. Inspired by missionary reports from America, Neumann sailed to New York in 1836 with little more than a dollar and a dream to serve immigrants.
Ordained that year by Bishop John Dubois, Neumann ministered to German-speaking settlers near Niagara Falls, enduring harsh conditions with minimal resources—often traveling on foot or horseback to remote farms. In 1840, seeking community, he joined the Redemptorists, becoming their first U.S. member to profess vows in 1842. His missionary zeal took him across Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio, where he served diverse immigrant populations. In 1852, Pope Pius IX appointed him the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, a role he accepted reluctantly due to his humility.
As bishop, Neumann transformed the diocese by establishing the first Catholic diocesan school system in the U.S., growing the number of schools from two to nearly 100 in eight years. He built churches at a rate of nearly one per month, invited religious orders to teach, and founded the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. Known as the “Little Bishop” for his short stature (about 5’4”), he spoke multiple languages to connect with his flock, especially German and Irish immigrants. Despite frequent illness, he tirelessly served until his sudden death at age 48 from a stroke while walking in Philadelphia. His legacy endures in education and immigrant ministry.
Miracles & Important Events
- Healing of Eva Benassi (1949): A young girl recovered from peritoneal cancer after prayers to Neumann, a miracle for his beatification.
- Healing of Michael Flanigan (1923): A boy was cured of spinal meningitis, another miracle for beatification.
- Healing of Kent Lenahan (1963): A boy recovered from leukemia, a key miracle for his canonization in 1977.
- Arrival in America (1836): Landed in New York with one dollar, ordained within weeks, beginning his U.S. mission.
- First Redemptorist Vows in U.S. (1842): Marked the growth of the order in America.
- Diocesan School System (1852-1860): Organized Catholic education in Philadelphia, a pioneering effort.
- Forty Hours Devotion: Introduced this Eucharistic devotion to the U.S., enhancing spiritual life.
Associated Symbols
- Bishop’s Vestments: Reflecting his role as Bishop of Philadelphia.
- Books or Scrolls: Symbolizing his love of learning and contributions to education.
- Cross or Crucifix: Representing his missionary zeal and devotion to Christ.
- School Buildings: Linked to his establishment of the diocesan school system.
- Redemptorist Habit: Denoting his membership in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
Quotes & Writings
Quotes:
- “Everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work.”
- “I have labored with all my strength to do what I could for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.”
- “My greatest pleasure is to serve the Lord in His poor and little ones.”
Writings:
- Catechisms in German: Authored several for immigrants, reflecting his pastoral care.
- Spiritual Letters: Correspondence revealing his humility and dedication.
- Sermons: Known for multilingual preaching, though few are preserved in writing.