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St. John Cantius | 1962 Missal | Latin Mass Readings | 10/20/2026 · Vox Liturgica

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  Vox Liturgica: The Propers of the Day according to the 1962 Roman Missal. The Feast of Saint John Cantius, October 20 in the year of our Lord, 02/2026. In the liturgical year Dom Prosper Guerrege writes, Kinti, the humble village of Silesia which witnessed the birth of Saint John owes its celebrity entirely to him. The canonization of this holy priest who in the fifteenth century had illustrated the University of Krakow by his virtues and science was the last hope of expiring Poland. It took place in the year 1767.
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  Two years earlier it was at the request of this heroic nation that Clement the thirteenth had issued the first decree sanctioning the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. When enrolling John Cantius among the saints, the magnanimous pontiff expressed in moving terms the gratitude of the church towards that unfortunate people and rendered to it before shamefully forgetful Europe a supreme homage. Five years later Poland was dismembered. John was born at Kinty a town in the Diocese of Krakow and hence his surname, Cantius. His parents were pious and honorable persons, by name Stanislaus and Anna.
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  From his very infancy, his sweetness of disposition, innocence, and gravity gave promise of a very great virtue. He studied philosophy and theology at the University of Krakow and taking all his degrees proceeded professor and doctor. He taught sacred science for many years enlightening the minds of his pupils and in kindling in them the flame of piety, no less by his deeds than by his words. When he was ordained priest, he relaxed nothing of his zeal for study, but increased his ardor for Christian perfection. Grieving exceedingly over the offenses everywhere committed against God, he strove to make satisfaction on his own behalf and that of the people by daily offering the unbloody sacrifice with many tears.
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  For several years he had charge of the parish of Alcouche which he administered in an exemplary manner, but fearing the responsibility of the cure of souls he resigned his post and at the request of the university resumed the professor's chair. Whatever time remained over from his studies, he devoted partly to the good of his neighbor, especially by holy preaching, partly to prayer in which he is said to have been sometimes favored with heavenly visions and communications. He was so affected by the passion of Christ that he would spend whole nights without sleep in the contemplation of it. And in order to better cultivate this devotion he undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. While there in his eagerness for martyrdom he boldly preached Christ crucified even to the Turks.
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  Four times he went to Rome on foot and carrying his own baggage to visit the threshold of the apostles in order to honor the apostolic sea to which he was earnestly devoted and also as he himself used to say to save himself from purgatory by means of the indulgences there daily to be gained. On one of these journeys he was robbed by brigands. When asked by them whether he had anything more he replied in the negative but afterwards remembering that he had some gold pieces sewed in his cloak he called back the robbers who had taken to flight and offered them the money. Astonished at the holy man's sincerity and generosity they restored all they had taken from him. After Saint Augustine's example he had verses inscribed on the walls of his house warning others as well as himself to respect the reputation of their neighbors.
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  He fed the hungry from his own table and clothed the naked not only with garments bought for the purpose but even with his own clothes and shoes. On these occasions, he would lower his cloak to the ground so as not to be seen walking home barefoot. He took very little sleep and that on the ground. His clothing was only sufficient to cover him and his food to keep him alive. He preserved his virginal purity like a lily among thorns by using a rough hair shirt, disciplines, and fasting.
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  And for about thirty five years before his death he abstained entirely from flesh meat. At length, full of days and of merits, he prepared himself long and diligently for death, which he felt drawing near. And that nothing might be a hindrance to him, he distributed all that remained in his house to the poor. Then strengthened with the sacraments of the church and desiring to be with Christ, he passed to heaven on Christmas Eve. He worked many miracles both in life and after death.
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  His body was carried to Saint Anne's, the Church of the University, and there honorably interred the people's veneration for the Saint and the crowds visiting his tomb increased daily and he is honored as one of the chief patrons of Poland and Lithuania. As new miracles continued to be wrought Pope Clement the thirteenth solemnly enrolled him among the saints. On the seventeenth of the calendar of August in the year of our Lord 1767. The Church is ever saying to thee and we repeat it with the same unwavering hope. Oh thou who didst never refuse assistance to anyone.
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  Take in hand the cause of thy native kingdom. It is the desire of the Poles, thy fellow countrymen. It is the prayer of even foreigners. The treason of which thy unhappy fatherland was the victim has not ceased to press heavily upon disorganized Europe. How many other crushing weights have since been thrown into the balance of our Lord's justice?
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  O John, teach us at least not to add thereto our own personal faults. It is by following thee along the path of virtue that we shall merit to obtain pardon from heaven and to hasten the hour of great atonements. In the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost. Amen. The introit.
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  Man's mercy extends only to his neighbor. God has pity for all living things. He is like a shepherd who cares for his sheep, teaches, and controls all alike. Blessed is the man who does not guide his steps by ill counsel, or linger where sinners walk, or where corrupt souls gather, and sit down to rest. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be, through all ages of ages.
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  Amen. Man's mercy extends only to his neighbor. God has pity for all living things. He is like a shepherd who cares for his sheep, teaches and controls all alike. The Collect.
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  Let us pray. Grant we beseech thee, Almighty God, that by the example of thy holy confessor, John, we may advance in the science of the Saints, and by showing mercy to others, win forgiveness from thee through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen. A lesson from the letter of Saint James the Apostle. Brethren, you must speak and act like men already on their trial before a law of freedom.
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  The merciless will be judged mercilessly. Mercy gives its judgment an honorable welcome. Of what use is it, my brethren, if a man claims to have faith and has no deeds to show for it? Can faith save him then? Here is a brother.
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  Here is a sister going naked, left without the means to secure their daily food. If one of you says to them, go in peace, warm yourselves, and take your fill without providing for their bodily needs, of what use is it? Thus faith. If it has no deeds to show for itself, has lost its own principle of life. The gradual, Let the mercy of the Lord give glory to him and his wonderful works to the children of men.
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  For he hath satisfied the empty soul, and hath filled the hungry soul with good things. Alleluia, alleluia. He hath opened his hand to the needy, and stretched out his hands to the poor. Alleluia. A continuation of the holy gospel according to Luke.
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  At that time Jesus said to his disciples, your loins must be girt and your lamps burning, and you yourselves like men awaiting their master's return from a wedding feast so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks at the door. Blessed are those servants whom their master will find watching when he comes. I promise you, he will gird himself and make them sit down to meet and minister to them. Whether he comes in the second quarter of the night or in the third, blessed are those servants if he finds them alert. Be sure of this.
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  If the master of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not allowed his house to be broken open. You too then must stand ready for at what hour you think not, the son of man will come. The offertory. Goodness was the livery I wore. My honesty was crown and robe to me.
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  In me, the blind found sight, the lame strength, the poor a father. The secret. Graciously receive these victims, O Lord, we beseech thee, for the sake of the merits of holy John, the confessor, and grant that, by loving thee above all things and all mankind for thy sake we may become well pleasing to thee both in will and in deed through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen. The Common Preface Just it is indeed and fitting, right in for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, everlasting God, through whom the angels praise thy majesty, the dominions worship it, the power stand in awe, the heavens and the hosts of heaven, together with the blessed Seraphim, joyfully do magnify.
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  We entreat thee that thou command it be permitted us to join with them in confessing thee while we say with lowly praise. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. The heavens and the earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
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  Hosanna in the highest. The communion. Give and gifts will be yours. Good measure and pressed down and shaken up and running over will be poured into your lap. The post communion.
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  Let us pray. O Lord, thou hast regaled us with the banquet of thy precious body and blood. And now we humbly entreat of thy mercy that we may be led by the merits and example of thy holy confessor, John, to imitate his charity and so to share his glory. Thou who art God, living and reigning with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost through all ages of ages. Amen.
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  In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Thanks be to God. Saint John Cantius, pray for us.