January 2003

St John Neumann was born in 1811 in the Bohemian village of Prachatitz, in what is today the Czech Republic. He was a very normal little boy, and his mother had to bribe him to come with her to daily Mass. But as he grew older, his sense of the Catholic faith deepened, and he felt an ardent desire to go the missions in North America. At age 25, while still a seminarian, he left Europe and arrived in New York in June, 1836. By nature he was studious and prayerful, rather shy and retiring. He was amazingly gifted for languages: besides Latin and Greek, he could fluently speak German, English, French, Spanish, Italian and Gaelic - a talent that helped him in a country of immigrants. So desperate was the need for priests that St John Neumann was ordained within three weeks of his arrival in New York. He was immediately sent to work among the European immigrants in upstate New York in a busy apostolate of Masses, confessions, sermons, catechisms and baptisms. There he came into contact with the Redemptorist Fathers. After mature thought, he decided to join them. He wrote: "I think that this is the best thing I can do for the security of my salvation. The constant supervision of religious superiors and the good example of fellow religious spur one to a life more pleasing to God than one can lead in the world." He was the first Redemptorist novice in America, and his novitiate was spent constantly on the road helping abandoned souls. He made his religious profession in Baltimore on 16 January 1842. His life as a Redemptorist priest was just as busy as it had been as a secular missionary. Besides his work for Catholic schools and orders of teaching sister, he also wrote two catechisms and a Bible history. His quiet prudence coupled with his sanctity won the notice of his European superiors, who made him Provincial of the Redemptorists in America. Eventually, Blessed Pius IX gave him a formal obedience to become the fourth bishop of Philadelphia, and he was consecrated in the church of St Alphonsus, Baltimore on 28 March 1852. Although he had many problems to contend with - not least was the fierce anti-Catholic violence urged on by the nativists - St John Neumann helped his diocese make rapid spiritual progress. He opened more than a hundred parochial schools, and he introduced the Forty Hours' Devotion throughout the diocese. He heroically endured an incredible amount of misunderstanding and contempt from Protestants and Catholics alike. On the morning of 5 January 1860, as he went about his pastoral duties in Philadelphia, St John Neumann collapsed on the pavement. He was taken inside a house, and there he died even before a priest could be called. St John Neumann departed this life as he had always lived it: busy fulfilling the Holy Will of God. He was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1976. One of the miracles for his canonisation was the sudden cure of Michael Flanigan of New Jersey, a 19—year old youth. He had suffered from cancer of the leg, jaw and lungs. After his parents prayed to St John Neumann, the cancer was suddenly gone and Michael was restored to health. • St John Neumann, pray for us!

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