July 21 John of Pulsano d. 1139

John and Thommy

Good morning
I love you

Happy Monday! 7-21 [I’m sending you cards as a hint… 7-27-49….]

After a weekend of doing nothing – reading a novel and grocery shopping is in the nothing list; tho I did do some writing, not nearly any of my better stuff but it’s a time filler – I gotta get out more….

John of Pulsano d. 1139

Born in Matera, in the Kingdom of Naples, thus properly known also as John of Matera. The Pulsano came later…. (duh)

John of Pulsano became a hermit then a Benedictine monk at Taranto. And, go figure, the monks there were opposed to John’s austerities – hard to imagine, even in the 12th century a person entering a Benedictine monastery and being too austere for the friars there…. However, when you are at the peak of your game, when your personal and professional discipline are at the best and getting better, then it will not be unlikely for you to be the odd man out. Like in class, if you’re doing the study necessary not only to get your A but also reading and studying and pondering enough to not only carry the discussion in class but to bust the curve on the test, it is likely you’ll be pressured to cool it and get with it, i.e., be like the group and not make people look bad or work harder or be better etc…. Even our religious institutions, whether twelfth or twenty-first centuries, act like other human organizations. So, what did John of Pulsano do?

He joined another Benedictine community. He did not give up on his vocation nor his austerities, his own calling. He sought a place, a group of people, where he could be assimilated, be all that he could be and have a positive influence on those around him. The community led by William of Vecelli [a John and a William come together for their mutual edification and the improvement of our family the church] took John of Pulsano in and nurtured his religiosity….

John of Pulsano preached at Ban then spent time as a Hermit in Sicily, where he was imprisoned [I don’t know why. I can only guess that his preaching and his exhortations and his leveraging the power of the church over people who would not straighten out probably put him cross wise with the powers that be, both secular and canonical. Piss off a bishop or a mother superior or a mayor or a governor by your righteousness, be prepared for being squashed, imprisoned, ostracized,…. ]

John of Pulsano escaped from prison and wound up first in Capua. [Which Shakespearean play does that remind you of?]

As he ended his missionary years, John of Pulsano founded an abbey in [guess where!]. He was their first abbot. This branch of the Benedictines did not thrive, maybe because of the austerities expected by John of Pulsano.

Lead or follow but always be true to your vocation, God’s calling you in our faith and family….

I love you
Dad