Saint John of Pulsano

Also known as

• Giovanni di Matera
• John of Matera
• John of Mathera

Memorial

• 20 June

Profile

Benedictine monk. Lived with such austerity that it brought on the enmity of his brothers who felt he was setting a standard that they could not meet, making them look bad, and drawing attention to himself. Monk at Montevergine Abbey under the spiritual direction of his friend Saint William of Vercelli, its founder. Popular preacher in Bari, Italy. Founded the Saint Mary of Pulsano Abbey at Pulsano, Italy where he served as abbot, and from which grew a new congregation.

Born

• at Matera, Basilicata region, Italy

Died

• 1139 at Pulsano, Italy of natural causes
• buried in a niche in a cave in the church at Saint Mary of Pulsano Abbey
• relics translated to Matera Cathedral in 1830

Representation

• abbot driving away the devil with a rod

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• For All The Saints
• La Citta dell’Uomo
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Santi e Beati

MLA Citation

• “Saint John of Pulsano”. Saints.SQPN.com. 24 January 2010. Web. 25 May 2013. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-john-of-pulsano/>