Formerly a cantor at the court of Emperor Lothair, John became Bishop of Cambrai and Arras in 866 after a long vacancy of the see. A zealous prelate and friend of Hincmar of Reims, he participated in numerous councils and protected the property of the Church against pillaging. He died in 879, leaving a reputation for holiness confirmed by miraculous healings.
Guided reading
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S. JOHN XIX, BISHOP OF CAMBRAI AND ARRAS
Context and episcopal election
After a three-year vacancy due to the intrigues of Emperor Lothair, John, a priest and cantor at the court, is elected bishop of Cambrai and Arras.
Quid, o homo, in omnibus es prudens, et circa te ipsum es insipiens?
O man! why be prudent in all things, and be foolish regarding yourself?
St. Bernard, Serm. de Miseria humana.
The Churches of Cambrai and Arras had been without a pastor for nearly three years, due to the intrigues of Emperor Lothair who sought to place unworthy men there, when at last God put an end to this calamity. It was within the very palace of this prince that He went to seek the man after His own heart, who was to govern these two dioceses and edify them by his virtues. This was the priest John, attached to th e court in prêtre Jean Bishop of Cambrai and Arras in the 9th century. the capacity of cantor of the chapel. He had known how to preserve, in this then-important office, a holy independence and the most inviolable fidelity. Thus he was received in Cambrai and Arras with testimonies of joy and respect. Hincmar, Archbishop of Reims, assisted by Bertulf of Trier Hincmar, archevêque de Reims Archbishop of Reims, a central figure in theological and political debates. and Odo of B eauvais, gave him e Bertulphe de Trèves Bishop who attended the consecration of John. piscop al consecration Odon de Beauvais Bishop who attended the consecration of John. (866). The new Pontiff discharged with zeal all the duties of his ministry, and repaired by his prudence the evils that the obstinacy of Lothair and the long vacancy of the see had caused. Afflicted by the scandalous disorders of the young emperor, with whom he had lived for several years, he groaned bitterly over them before the Lord and asked, for this soul led astray by passions, the grace of a sincere conversion.
Conciliar activity and defense of the Church
John participated in numerous regional councils and firmly opposed the spoliation of ecclesiastical property, particularly that of the Abbey of Lobbes.
This venerable bishop, during his episcopate, attended several councils where he distinguished himself by his spirit of conciliation and charity. He is found at Soissons in 866, at Troyes in 867, at Verberie in 869, at Douzi in 871, at Chalon-sur-Saône in 875, and finally at Ponthion in 876. As zealous for the defense of the rights of his Church as for the sanctification of souls, saint Jean Bishop of Cambrai and Arras in the 9th century. Saint John energetically opposed the enterprises of certain violent men who took advantage of public unrest to seize ecclesiastical property, and in particular that of the Abbey of Lobbes. He a abbaye de Lobbes Monastery where Ermin was a monk and later abbot. lso took care of the relics that the sacrilegious greed of the Normans forced to be enclosed within the strongholds of the kingdom.
Relations with Hincmar of Reims
The bishop maintained a close friendship and intellectual collaboration with Archbishop Hincmar, exchanging texts by Saint Augustine and Bede the Venerable.
Flodoard Flodoard Historian of the Church of Reims and hagiographical source. , in his History of the Church of Reims, and other ancient authors, point out the intimate relations that existed between Archbishop Hincmar and the venerable John, who was one of his suffragans. They were united by a close friendship and had an equal ardor for working toward the sanctification of the people and the glory of the Church. We see, in a letter reported by Balderic in his chronicle of Cambrai and Arras, that Hincmar thanks Bishop John for the services he rendered him, and asks him to send him a sermon by Saint Augustine a s well as Bede saint Augustin Father of the Church and spiritual master of Possidius. 's commentary on the Proverbs.
Death, miracles and translation
John died in 879 after thirteen years of episcopate; his holiness was confirmed by miracles and his remains were later transferred to Notre-Dame de Cambrai.
After an episcopate of thirteen years, filled with tribulations and merits, this worthy bishop returned his soul to his Creator on August 5, 879, leaving his people a reputation for holiness that miracles have confirmed. It is reported, among other extraordinary facts, that a man, afflicted since childhood with a contraction of the nerves, and who had been brought on a cart near the Saint's tomb, found the healing of his infirmity there.
The body of Saint John was first deposited in the church of Sainte-Croix, in Cambrai; but, subse quently, Gerard I of F Gérard Ier de Florines Bishop who oversaw the translation of the relics of Saint John. lorines transported it to the church of Notre-Dame, which had been repaired and enlarged.
Taken from the Lives of the Saints of the dioceses of Cambrai and Arras, by Abbé Destembes.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Chanter of the chapel at the court of Emperor Lothair
- Episcopal consecration by Hincmar of Reims in 866
- Participation in the councils of Soissons (866), Troyes (867), Verberie (869), Douzy (871), Chalon-sur-Saône (875), and Ponthion (876)
- Opposition to the spoliation of the property of Lobbes Abbey
- Protection of relics against the Normans
Miracles
- Healing of a man afflicted with a contraction of the nerves near his tomb
Quotes
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Quid, o homo, in omnibus es prudens, et circa te ipsum es insipiens?
St. Bernard, Serm. de Miseria humana (as an epigraph)