Blessed John

The short but touching eulogy, which a bishop publicly rendered to the memory of the p ious Jean A humble 15th-century shepherd who became a model of lay sanctity. Jean of Monchy-le-Preux, contains the few known details of his life. This bishop is Pierre de Hacquev Pierre de Hacqueville Bishop of Arras from 1463 to 1499, principal witness to the life of Jean. ille, who governed the diocese of diocèse d'Arras City where Frédéric serves as provost. Arras from 1463 to 1499. The duties of his ministry had called him to Monchy-le-Preux at the very moment when the humble shepherd was about to render his soul to God. "Let all the faithful of Jesus Christ, present and future," says the prelate in a public act written at the same time, "know that in this village of Monchy-le-Preux, of the diocese of Arras, lived a man called Jean, a simple layman, very faithful to Jesus Christ, and who, throughout his life, led a very holy conduct. By the gift of God, he rose to the highest contemplation, ignored the stains of concupiscence, and avoided until death all that could tarnish the purity of his soul."

Even before his death, the blessed John had performed several miraculous healings through his prayers, and given other signs of the power he enjoyed with God. He restored sight to an inhabitant of Arras and to a woman who was still living at the time when a monk from the abb ey of Hannon re abbaye d'Hannon Abbey from which a monk recorded the saint's miracles. ported these details. This author adds that the holy shepherd restored hearing to a young man, cured several people of stones or hernia, and stopped a fire in the very village of Monchy-le-Preux.

Neither the year nor the day of the blessed John's death is known. His feast was set for June 24, perhaps because of the similarity of his name to that of Saint John the Baptist. Moreover, the latter feast, being a day of rest in former times, made it easier for the faithful to come and pay their duties and respects to the patron saint. On that day, indeed, reports Ferri de Locres, such a great multitude of pilgrims would flock to the tomb of the blessed John of Monchy that the village was entirely filled. This tomb, made of artistically sculpted stone, had been donated by a noble count named Oudar Oudard Count healed through the intercession of John, donor of his tomb. d, who had been healed through the intercession of the servant of God. These healings, which occurred very frequently, have always sustained the piety of the inhabitants of Monchy-le-Preux and the neighboring villages toward their venerable compatriot and patron.

Abbé Destombes: *Vies des Saints des diocèses de Cambrai et Arras*.