Jan 23 John the Almoner b. 558 d. 616

John and Thommy,

Good morning
I love you.

After two Irish saints, the named saint of the day, John the Almoner [we’re not so subtle in naming some of our saints] is our main event for the morning. What will our epitaph be? John the _____ . Thommy the _____ . Bill the _____ . And what do we want it to be? For John the Almoner, I’m betting both were the same….



Jan 23
John the Almoner b. 558 d. 616

John the Almoner came from a noble Cypriot family. John the Almoner was a wealthy man in his own right. He married. He had children. John the Almoner was a generous and pious man, husband, and father. When his wife and children died, John the Almoner took that as a sign to become a priest and to serve the poor of his community.

I do not doubt that John the Almoner did not wait until he was fifty before he directed his life by discerning God’s will in the every day happenings of his life. Given his reputation for piety, I bet that he started each day with an Ignatian like prayer asking God what He wanted him to do today; and ended his day with an examination of conscience - how well did I do what you wanted today? I suggest that you practice the same discipline. And not only ask God these questions, ask them of your spouse [if that is your vocation], even ask your mentors and friends often, and your parents regularly.

John the Almoner was not a man of half measures. When he entered the priesthood, John the Almoner used the entire income from his estate to serve the poor.

Such a priest, of course, caught the eye of the leaders of the church. In about 608, John the Almoner was elected patriarch of Alexandria - the primo see of the church in the east. When John the Almoner arrived in Alexandria, he asked for a list of his Masters - I.e., the poor. Before accepting his consecration, he ensured the care of over 7500 poor in the city; whom he took as his responsibility for the duration of his patriarchy.

As Patriarch, John the Almoner issued an order to forbid the use of fraudulent weights and measures, a primary way of cheating the poor. What is the basis for your establishing rules for yourself and for those who are in your care, within your responsibility? Do the poor, the least among us, get preferential treatment from you? As he took office, John the Almoner passed out the patriarchy’s treasury to the hospitals, monasteries, and poor houses. John the Almoner dedicated the revenues for the see to the service of the poor. Check out your parish as well as your own treasure, how do you dedicate your revenues…? This example set, others followed; the contributions to the see came flowing in.

When the officials of the church remonstrated, John the Almoner told them of a vision from his youth. [how do you recall the visions of your youth?] A beautiful woman, brighter than the sun, whom he took for Charity or compassion for the miserable. She said to him,

“I am the eldest daughter of the great King. If you enjoy my favor, I will introduce you to the monarch of the universe. No one has so great an interest with him as myself, who was the occasion of his coming down from heaven to become man for the redemption of mankind.” or, as John the Apostle said to those who sought his wisdom - Love one another….



No number of necessities, no loses, no straits to which he often found himself reduced discouraged him or made him lose confidence in providence. In the end, resources never failed him.



When he was thanked profusely by an ingratiating supplicant, John the Almoner stopped him short, “I have not yet spilt my blood for you as Jesus my Master and God commands me.” What are you called to do….? How will you respond to the thanks you receive? How will you deliver on what you are called upon to do?

Before you become a leader, I suggest you learn a bit about John the Almoner’s way of leading his patriarchy.

Twice a week, he gave free access to him to all those with a grievance. He resolved difference, comforted the afflicted, relieved the distressed.

John the Almoner lived an austere life - as to diet, clothes, furnishings - he wouldn’t make it as a John Thain-like Merrill Lynch ceo with a 1.2 million dollar office.

When a benefactor learned about the thinness of John the Almoner’s blanket, he gave him a blanket worthy of a Patriarch. The prelate used it, in great distress, for one night; he gave it the next day to one of his Masters - one of the poor. Whom do you consider your masters?

John the Almoner saw the priorities of his ministry to be prayer and piety, including the pious reading of scripture and holy books. Neither of which should be absent from our daily routine, if not truly central to it.

John the Almoner did not say anything that was not necessary. Imagine the discipline - first in being clear as to what is necessary and then to remain so focused.

Whenever John the Almoner heard someone say a disparaging word, he changed the topic. Such people he kept out of his house so as not to infect them with such practices. How do you handle the banalities of speaking poorly of others? How do you keep such people out of your life? Out of the groups/organizations for which you are responsible. It is probably more important to first eliminate the influence of wrongheadedness and evil….

How’s this for ways to find and influence the goodness in discourse - - - John the Almoner used meekness to quiet rancor. He fell at the feet of those who insulted him to beg their pardon. John the Almoner would not believe anything said against another until he examined that person himself. AND, he punished false informers, tale-bearers, and calumniators.

John the Almoner exhorts us against rash judgment by reminding us “circumstances easily deceive us…. What do private persons have to do with others unless it is to vindicate them?!”

The wit and wisdom of John the Almoner….

I love you
dad