St. John of Sahagun, Priest (1430-1479), June 12.
John was born into a distinguished family at Sahagun, Leon, Spain around 1430. While still a young man and before he became a priest, his father, solely for material gain, obtained for him an ecclesiastical benefice and the care of souls. To the bitter disappointment of his family, John refused this, because he saw such a commitment as alien to true friends of God. Because of his good qualities, Alphonsus of Carthage, Bishop of Burgos, received him into his household and ordained him a priest. However, John did not find fulfillment in the episcopal curia, and not even the promise of an appointment as a cathedral canon was sufficient to keep him in Burgos. He went to Salamanca and there dedicated himself to study and preaching. Still desiring a more perfect way of life, he joined the Augustinian Order on June 18, 1463 and made profession of vows on August 28, 1464. John was a sincere and humble man, a tireless preacher and peacemaker and advocate of social harmony. He was a staunch defender of the rights of workers. His devotion to the Bless Eucharist was central to his life. He died in Salamanca on June 11, 1479, and his remains are preserved in the new cathedral of the city.