St. John Nepomuk Neumann

TODAY IS THE feast of St. John Neumann, the saintly Bishop of Philadelphia. St. John was born to a Czech mother and German father in Prachatice (Prachatitz), Bohemia and attended the Charles University in Prague with the intention of being ordained to the priesthood. His bishop, however, decided against any new ordinations as there were too many priests in Bohemia already (Just imagine!). John, fluent in six languages, wrote to other bishops in Europe seeking ordination until he decided to appeal to the episcopacy of the United States. He became the first Redemptorist in the New World when he took his vows in Baltimore in 1842. Six years later he became an American citizen, and just ten years later he was consecrated Bishop of Philadelphia.

St. John Neumann built ninety-eight schools, fifty churches, and began construction on a cathedral, as well as writing two catechisms. His earthly remains are on view in Philadelphia to this day.

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