Blessed John of Valence

21 March
26 April on some calendars

Profile

Canon at Lyons, France. Pilgrim to Compostela, Spain. Benedictine Cistercian monk at Clairvaux Abbey under Saint Bernard. Founded the Cistercian Bonneval Abbey in 1117, and later served as its abbot. Bishop of Valence, France in 1141; he felt so unworthy of the position that he had to be physically carried to the altar to be consecrated. Fought for his flock not just in matters spiritual but for farmers, merchants and the impoverished who were all ruined by debt during a regional financial crisis.