The Saint John Who Walked the Streets of NYC, Philly, Ohio …

January 5 is the feast day of St. John Neumann, the fourth bishop of Philadelphia. That’s not a bad way to start out the first full work-week of the year during which Pope Francis plans to visit the “City of Brotherly Love.”

(Take a tour of Catholic holy sites in my recent National Review Online interview with Philly resident and Faithful Traveler host Diana von Glahn here.)

Neumann was ordained at Old St. Patrick’s in Manhattan.

When Neumann was canonized in 1977, Saint John Paul II said:

At the time of John Neumann, America represented new values and new hopes. Bishop Neumann saw these in their relationship to the ultimate, supreme possession to which humanity is destined. With Saint Paul he could testify that “all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” And with Augustine he knew that our hearts are restless, until they rest in the Lord.
His love for people was authentic brotherly love. It was real charity: missionary and pastoral charity. It meant that he gave himself to others. Like Jesus the Good Shepherd, he lay down his life for the sheep, for Christ’s flock: to provide for their needs, to lead them to salvation. And today, with the Evangelist, we solemnly proclaim: “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
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And who can fail to admire all the loving concern that John Neumann showed for God’s people, through his priestly ministry and his pastoral visitations as a Bishop? He deeply loved the Sacramental of Reconciliation: and like a worthy son of Saint Alphonsus he transmitted the pardon and the healing power of the Redeemer into the lives of innumerable sons and daughters of the Church. He was close to the sick; he was at home with the poor; he was a friend to sinners. And today he is the honor of all immigrants, and from the viewpoint of the Beatitudes the symbol of Christian success.
John Neumann bore the image of Christ. He experienced, in his innermost being, the need to proclaim by word and example the wisdom and power of God, and to preach the crucified Christ. And in the Passion of the Lord he found strength and the inspiration of his ministry: Passio Christi conforta me!
The Eucharistic Sacrifice was the center of his life, and constituted for him what the Second Vatican Council would later call “the source and summit of all evangelization.” With great effectiveness, through the Forty Hours Devotion he helped his parishes become communities of faith and service.
But to accomplish his task, love was necessary. And love meant giving; love meant effort; love meant sacrifice. And in his sacrifice, Bishop Neumann’s service was complete. He led his people along the paths of holiness. He was indeed an effective witness, in his generation, to God’s love for his Church and the world.
There are many who have lived and are still living the divine command of generous love. For love still means giving oneself for others, because Love has come down to humanity; and from humanity love goes back to its divine source! How many men and women make this plan of God the program of their lives! Our praise goes to the clergy, religious and Catholic laity of America who, in following the Gospel, live according to this plan of sacrifice and service. Saint John Neumann is a true example for all of us in this regard. It is not enough to acquire the good things of the earth, for these can even be dangerous, if they stop or impede our love from rising to its source and reaching its goal. Let us always remember that the greatest and the first commandment is this: “You shall love the Lord your God” (Matth. 22, 36).
True humanism in Christianity. True Christianity–we repeat– is the sacrifice of self for others, because of Christ, because of God. It is shown by signs; it is manifested in deeds. Christianity is sensitive to the suffering and oppression and sorrow of others, to poverty, to all human needs, the first of which is truth.
Our ceremony today is indeed the celebration of holiness. At the same time, it is a prophetic anticipation-for the Church, for the United States, for the world-of a renewal in love: love for God, love for neighbor.
And in this vital charity, beloved sons and daughters, let us go forward together, to build up a real civilization of love.
Saint John Neumann, by the living power of your example and by the intercession of your prayers, help us today and for ever.

Diana von Glahn takes a pilgrimage of Philadelphia remembering his life and service.

Here’s a link to his national shrine in Philadelphia.

Today’s entry in Magnificat, that little monthly that changes lives, is a snapshot of his soul, the prayers of a man who lived a Christian life, in constant conversion, configured by Christ daily in prayer, sacrifice, examination of conscience, discernment, and encounter with Divine Mercy.

My Lord, Jesus, behold me defiled by sin. Again I have stained the holy garment of grace in my soul that your blood has cleansed so often. O, Father of mercy, hear my prayer. Give me a true spirit of penance that through the humble supplication of a contrite heart I may again receive pardon.
Since my last confession I have fallen more frequently than usual. My Jesus, I have gone back. But do not forsake me, that though I richly deserve to be rejected as obstinate and incorrigible. Behold me prostrate before you, O my God. My sinfulness weighs me down. Alas, Jesus my God and Savior, I dare not raise my eyes to you. How can I who have so often violated my past resolves presume to ask pardon again?
O my soul, crushed by the load of sin, take courage; your Redeemer will console you in your desolation. Reject me not, though I have miserably broken my promise of amendment. Cast not off your wretched child or I shall be forever lost. From my heart I grieve for having offended you. O holy Mother of God, my guardian angel, my holy patrons, intercede for me with my judge and obtain for me the pardon of my sins. O Jesus, grant me a true spirit of penance. My Jesus, have mercy on me.

We’re reminded in the lives of the saints that holiness is not the result of a waving of a magic wand, but grace at work in our lives and our daily decision to be grateful and let it flourish, let Him flourish within us, surrendered as instruments of God’s love in the world.

I’m reminded to I’m making a habit of rereading this about the passing of time every few days to help stay the course.

Dear Jesus, grant us a true spirit of penance. Jesus, have mercy on us. St. John Neumann, pray for us.

(Corrections made and links added since posting.)