Saint John of Lodi

Blessed John of Lodi, so named because he was born in that Italian city, was raised by his parents in the practice of virtue, despised the world early on, devoted himself to the service of the poor and the sick, and exercised himself in mortification from that time forth. He lived for some time in a hut he had built for himself near a church, giving himself over to great austerities there. The desire for greater perfection led him to the monastery of Fonte Avellana, of which the famous Saint Peter Damian was then superior. Under the direction of this skillful master, John made such great progress in the way of salvation that Saint Peter saw fit to have him raised to holy orders. His virtue shone with such brilliance that, upon the death of the pious abbot, the religious of Fonte Avellana felt obliged, despite his resistance, to choose him to replace the blessed doctor as prior. In this office he displayed such great prudence combined with such perfect charity that the clergy and people of the city of Gubbio, whose episcopal see was vacant, conceived the idea of requesting him as bishop from the Pope's legate. The latter willingly consented and commanded John to accept this burden, which alarmed his humility. Having become pastor of souls, the servant of God devoted himself entirely to their sanctification, while maintaining all the practices of the religious life. The time of his episcopate was not long; for he died the year following that of his consecration, that is to say, on 7 September 1106, at the age of eighty years. Pope Paschal II numbered him among the Saints; and his feast is celebrated in the Order of Camaldoli on the day of his death. His body is preserved without corruption in the cathedral of Gubbio.

Acta Sanctorum.