John Neumann, Saint
John Neumann, Saint
Bishop of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; born Prachatitz, Bohemia, 28 March 1811 ; died Philadelphia, 5 January 1860 . He entered the seminary of Budweis but before his ordination came to America, 1836; was ordained by Bishop Dubois of New York, and devoted four years to missionary labors in western New York. In 1840 he joined the Redemptorist Order; served as superior of that order in Pittsburgh, and in 1846 was made vice-provincial of the Redemptorists in America. Elevated to the See of Philadelphia, 1852, he worked indefatigably to promote education in his diocese , and to minister to the spiritual and material welfare of his flock. He was prominent at the Council of Baltimore, 1852. Noted for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament , he was the first American bishop to introduce the Forty Hours devotion into his diocese , 1853. The Cause of his canonization was introduced in 1896; he was beatified in 1963, canonized in 1977. Feast , 5 January .