Saint of the day July 12, 2025

St. John Gualbert was born in Florence sometime around the year 995. He was educated in a cathedral school, but during his teen years, he fell in with the wrong crowd and was drawn away by worldly vanities. As a young man, his brother was murdered, which devastated John. John resolved to take vengeance on the perpetrator and on Good Friday, cornered his brother’s killer and drew a sword to slay him. The man, however, dropped to his knees and begged mercy in the name of Jesus Christ. Moved at the appeal to pity and the invocation of the Savior’s adorable name, John had mercy and let the man live. Then both of them went into a Church to weep and beg pardon for their sins. This was the beginning of St. John’s conversion.

We next see St. John in a local Benedictine monastery, where his progress in virtue was so swift and pure that his brothers began to whisper his name as a potential successor to the abbacy. Horrified by the thought, John and another companion left the monastery to seek greater solitude. He finally settled down at the Valle Ombrosa in Tuscany, and with some other hermits whom he found already living there, founded a small Benedictine monastery dedicated to observing the primitive Rule of St. Benedict. This was the seed of what would become the Order of Vallombrosa.

The commitment of the order of St. John to poverty was absolute, and he was particularly insistent that the brothers give all they could to secure the poor. As the community grew, St. John traveled about the region, founding no less than ten other monasteries. He is also remembered for his fierce denunciation of simony, a major problem in the Church of the 11th century. Tradition says that his preaching was so effective that simony was practically eradicated in the region of Tuscany.

Despite his holiness, St. John Gualbert never allowed himself to take Holy Orders, not even minor orders, and hence was a layperson. He died in 1073 at the ripe age of 80 and was canonized in 1193. Saint John Gualbert is venerated as a patron saint of forest workers and foresters

Reflection

The heroic act that merited Saint John Gualbert's conversion was the forgiveness of his enemy. Let us imitate him in this virtue, resolving never to revenge ourselves in thought, in word, or in deed.
The life of Saint John Gualbert serves as an inspiring example of forgiveness, humility, and devotion to God. His unwavering commitment to the Gospel message continues to resonate with believers, urging them to embrace the values of love, mercy, and compassion in their own lives.