Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.
Saint John Gualbert.
Abbot.
Feast Day 12 July.
Double.
White Vestments.
English: Saint John Gualbert and Saints.
Church of Santa Trinita, Florence, Italy.
Italiano: San Giovanni Gualberto and Saints.
Santa Trinita, Florence, Italy.
Photo: 4 July 2006.
Source: Unknown.
Author: Unknown.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Basilica di Santa Trinita (Holy Trinity),
Piazza Santa Trinita, Florence, Italy.
Photo: 30 October 2013.
Source: Own work.
Author: LivornoDP
(Wikimedia Commons)
Saint John Gualbert.
Merciful Knight Becomes Monk.
Available on YouTube at
John Gualbert was born at Florence, Italy, towards 999 A.D. One Good Friday, escorted by his armed attendants, he met the murderer of his brother. who was alone and unattended.. He was about to pierce him with his lance, when the murderer threw himself at his feet and craved pardon for the sake of Jesus Christ Crucified. John remembered the loving words of the Gospel and embraced him as a brother.
Still more touched by Grace, he became a Monk, and soon a Law-Giver, like Moses (Epistle). He Founded at Vallombrosa, in Tuscany, Italy, a new Order [Editor: The Vallumbrosan Order] to which he gave The Rule of Saint Benedict (Communion) and which is still flourishing after more than eight Centuries of existence.
Simony reigned everywhere in Italy. His firmness and eloquence banished this disorder from Tuscany and brought back his Country to integrity of Faith and Manners. So, when he died in 1073, they inscribed on his tomb: "To John Gualbert. citizen of Florence, liberator of Italy".
Mass: Os justi.
Commemoration: Saint Nabor and Saint Felix.
“The Merciful Knight”.
Birmingham Museum Art Gallery, Birmingham, England.
Date: 1863.
Author: Edward Burne-Jones (1833–1898).
(Wikimedia Commons)
The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.
John Gualbert (985 A.D. – 12 July 1073), also known as Giovanni Gualberto, or, John Gualberto, is an Italian Roman Catholic Saint, the Founder of The Vallumbrosan Order.
A member of the Visdomini Family of Florentine nobility, one Good Friday he was entering Florence, accompanied by armed followers, when in a narrow lane he came upon a man who had killed his brother. He was about to kill the man in revenge, when the other fell upon his knees with arms outstretched in the form of a Cross and begged for mercy in the name of Christ, who had been Crucified on that day.
John forgave him. He entered The Benedictine Church at San Miniato to Pray, and the figure on The Crucifix bowed its head to him in recognition of his generosity. This story forms the subject of Burne-Jones's picture "The Merciful Knight", and has been adapted by Shorthouse in "John Inglesant".
John Gualbert became a Benedictine Monk at San Miniato, Italy. He fought actively against Simony, of which both his Abbot, Oberto, and the Bishop of Florence, Pietro Mezzabarba, were guilty.
English: Church of Saint John Gualbert,
Livorno, Italy.
Italiano: Livorno, Valle Benedetta:
chiesa di S. Giovanni Gualberto.
Photo: 25 April 2013.
Source: Own work.
Author: Etienne (Li)
(Wikimedia Commons)
Unwilling to compromise with them, he left the Monastery to lead a more perfect life. His attraction was for the cenobitic, and not eremitic life, so, after staying for some time with the Monks at Camaldoli, he settled at Vallombrosa, where he Founded his Monastery.
The area surrounding his Monastery was wild and deserted when he first arrived. John thought that it would be more conducive to contemplation and discipline if the grounds were better kept. But, instead of a Traditional garden, he opted to have his Monks plant trees (firs and pines, mostly), creating a Park and Nature Reserve to enhance the Prayerful environment. Mabillon estimates its Foundation before 1038.
He was Canonised in 1193 by Pope Celestine III.
Saint John Gualbert's Feast Day was not included in The Tridentine Calendar, but was added to The General Roman Calendar in 1595. Owing to its limited Worldwide importance, his Feast Day was removed from that Calendar in 1969. But, 12 July continues to be his Feast Day, as indicated in The Roman Martyrology, and, according to the new Rules given in The Roman Missal of the same year, he may now be Celebrated everywhere with his own Mass on that day,
He is the Patron Saint of Foresters, Park Rangers, and Parks [Editor: Please see Zephyrinus's Post for 9 July.]
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