St. John Chrysostom, BpCD - January 27th

St. John Chrysostom (Flickr)

"We beseech Thee, O Lord, let Thy heavenly grace give increase to Thy Church, which Thou wert pleased to adorn with the glorious merits and teaching of blessed John Chrysostom, Thy Confessor and Bishop. Through and Lord." - Roman Catholic Daily Missal, 1962

St. John came from Antioch and was called “Chrysostom” because of the golden flood of his eloquence. Ordained a priest of the Church of Antioch, he was later, against his will made archbishop of Constantinople to succeed Nectarius, through the influence of Arcadius the emperor. In this office, since he spoke out strongly against the degradation of public morals and the licentious lives of the nobility, he drew down on himself the hatred of many persons. He gravely offended Empress Eudoxia also, because he reprehended her for taking the money of the widow Callitropa and the land of another widow. For all these reasons he was forced into exile, while all the widows and the needy mourned at being deprived of their common father. It is beyond belief how many hardships he suffered in his exile and how many people he converted to the faith of Jesus Christ. The number, warmth and brilliance of his sermons and other writings are universally admired. He gave up his soul to God on September 14, and his body was buried in the Vatican basilica. This outstanding Doctor of the universal Church was appointed the heavenly patron of preachers by Pope Pius X. - 1960 Roman Breviary

In Christ Crucified and the Most Victorious Heart of Jesus.