Feb 13 John Lantrua of Triora b. 1760 d. 1816 beat. 1900

John and Thommy

Good morning
I love you

February 13 Bl. John Lantrua of Triora b. 1760 d. 1816 beat. 1900

China. Goa. In and about the far far east. Certainly far for Francis Xavier, SJ for me the model of China missionaries. His life story is worth your learning, pondering, praying. To whom will you bring your Catholic faith, your relationship with Jesus, God – Father, Son, Spirit, with Church, with Family…? And how?

John Lantrua was born at Triora, in Liguria, Italy in 1760. Not a Jesuit. Not a Spaniard or Portugese…. John Lantrua, from Italy, became a Franciscan at the age of 17. So, a guy born in the 20th c. born in Nashville Tennessee can become a Franciscan, even in Greensboro a tertiary, if not a man of the cloth with the missions on his mind….

John Lantrua volunteered for the Chinese missions, following in the footsteps of the Franciscans and Jesuits before him. He served the Chines [and his God and Church] from 1798 to 1816. Eighteen years. With great success we are told in the penny version of his bio.

And then. The zeitgeist changed in China for John Lantura – he was arrested, imprisoned, and strangled for his faith – maybe not so much for the faith he held but what his life and preaching and beliefs were an example of , being a holy contrast to the modus vivandi of the rulers around him?....

Listen for your vocation – follow it wherever it takes you; discern God’s will….
And all that….

I love you,
Dad