John Cantius

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Saint John Cantius
Saint John Cantius
Born	23 June 1390 in Kęty, Oświęcim, Poland
Died	24 December 1473 in Kraków Academy
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	1767 by Pope Clement XIII
Feast	December 23
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Saint John Cantius (Polish: Jan Kanty; 23 June 1390 - 24 December 1473) was a renowned Polish Scholastic and theologian. In English he is also known as John of Kanty or John of Kenti.

He was born in Kęty, a small town near Oświęcim, in the diocese of Kraków, Poland, to Stanisław and Anna Kanty. His parents enrolled him in the Kraków Academy, where he eventually graduated as a bachelor, master, and doctor. He was also ordained a priest.

Though he left the Academy for a time after his graduation, he soon returned as professor of Sacrae Scripturae (Sacred Scriptures), a position he held until his death in 1473. In physics, he helped develop Jean Buridan's theory of "impetus," which anticipated the work of Galileo and Newton.

Cantius was noted throughout his life for his good humor and humility. He subsisted only on what was strictly necessary to sustain his life, giving away the rest of his salary to the poor.

He made four pilgrimages to Rome (on foot), and one to Jerusalem—the latter with the intent of martyring himself to the Turks.

Throughout his life, various miracles were attributed to him. In 1767 he was canonized by Pope Clement XIII.

St. John Cantius' Feast Day is December 23.