Blessed John of Parma

In 1247, his brothers elected him General by common accord. His first care was to visit all the convents subject to his jurisdiction, and to re-establish discipline there, which the weakness of his predecessor had rendered less severe. With this in view, he gathered several chapters. It was while he was holding the one at Sens that King Saint Louis, who was departing for the crusade, came to commend himself to his prayers. The good king gave, on this occasion, a proof of the esteem he professed for the servant of God: he went to di ne with the Fr Frères Mineurs Religious order claiming the saint's affiliation. iars Minor, and he took the last place a t the table Edouard III King of England and founder of the Order of the Garter. . Edward III, King of England, had no less consideration for John of Parma. The latter, having gone to greet him while he was visiting the convents of his kingdom, the monarch, informed of the holiness of the Franciscan, ran to meet him and embraced him tenderly.

At that time, In nocent IV s Innocent IV 13th-century pope who testified to the saint's miracles. till occupied the Holy See; his affection for the Blessed had not wavered since the Council of Lyon. In 1249, the Greeks having manifested the desire to reunite with the Roman Church, this Pontiff believed he could choose no better legate than John to handle this delicate matter. His mission succeeded perfectly with Emperor John Du cas and the Patriar empereur Jean Ducas Byzantine emperor met during the legation. ch of Constantinople; but subordinates, bitter partisans of the schism, killed the ambassadors they had sent to the Pope. The matter ended there. Shortly after, a riot raised by the secular doctors of the University of Paris against the Dominicans had forced these religious to leave their chairs. John, fearing the same disgrace for the Friars Minor, rushed to Paris and had the good fortune, through his gentleness as much as his eloquence, to ward off the blow. In 1254, he resigned from the generalate in favor of Saint Bonaventure. He liv ed for another th saint Bonaventure Doctor of the Church cited in the epigraph. irty years, which he spent in solitude. Toward the end of his life, his zeal for the good of religion led him to beg Pope Nicholas IV to entrust him with a ne Nicolas IV Childhood friend of Conrad, Minister General of the Franciscans, and later pope. w mission in the East, to cement peace between the Latins and the Greeks, but the Lord was satisfied with his good will. He died on the way, in Camerino, on March 28, 1289. There ar Camerino Place where Bernard pronounced his religious vows. e few Saints who have traveled as much as Blessed John of Parma; he always walked on foot, and even refused a mount to go to Constantinople. Pius VI beatified him in 1781.

At that time, Innocent IV still occupied the Holy See; his affection for the Blessed had not wavered since the Council of Lyon. In 1249, the Greeks having expressed a desire to reunite with the Roman Church, this Pontiff believed he could choose no better legate than John to handle this delicate matter. His mission was perfectly successful with Emperor John Ducas and the Patriarch of Constantinople; however, subordinates, staunch partisans of the schism, killed the ambassadors they had sent to the Pope. The matter ended there. Shortly after, a riot stirred up by the secular doctors of the University of Paris against the Dominicans had forced these religious to leave their chairs. John, fearing the same disgrace for the Friars Minor, rushed to Paris and had the good fortune, through his gentleness as much as his eloquence, to avert the blow. In 1254, he resigned from the generalate in favor of Saint Bonaventure. He lived for another thirty years, which he spent in solitude. Toward the end of his life, his zeal for the good of religion led him to beg Pope Nicholas IV to entrust him with a new mission in the East, to cement peace between the Latins and the Greeks, but the Lord was satisfied with his good will. He died on the way, in Camerino, on March 28, 1289. Few Saints have traveled as much as Blessed John of Parma; he always walked on foot, and even refused a mount to travel to Constantinople. Pius VI beatified him in 1781.