Beatified 1891 by Pope Leo XIII Feast 29 September | Name Jean Montmirail Died 1217, Longpont, France | |
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Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
(Diocese of Soissons) | ||
Jean de Montmirail (or Monte-Mirabili), O.S.B. Cist. (1165 – 29 September 1217) was a French nobleman who became a Cistercian monk. He is venerated as a beatus in the Catholic Church.
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Life
John was the son of Andrew, Lord of Montmirail and Ferté-Gaucher, and Hildiarde d'Oisy. He was given a religious upbringing by his mother, and was well educated.
While young he embraced a military career and was presented at the Royal Court, where he formed a lasting friendship with Philip Augustus, later King of France. On one occasion, John was even said to have saved the Philip's life. The dissipations of court life led him to neglect the training of his youth; even his marriage with Helvide de Dampierre failed to effect a change.
In his thirtieth year he met Jobert, Prior of St-Etienne de Montmirail, and experienced a conversion. He built an hospital for the sick of all kinds, but the objects of his predilection were the lepers, and those hopelessly afflicted. He wore a hair-shirt, frequently passing entire nights in prayer. After a while, he entered the Cistercian monastery of Longpont, after having distributed among the poor all his possessions not needed by his wife and family. He was abused for his decision by his former friends. Even members of his own family disapproved of his abandonment of honour and wealth for poverty and subjection.
He died at Longpont on 29 September 1217.
Veneration
Miracles were said to be wrought at his tomb, and attracted pilgrims. By the 1230s, John was being venerated as a miracle-working saint. Pope Leo XIII granted a special office in his honour for the diocese of Soissons. He was beatified in 1891. His feast is celebrated on 29 September.