John of Salerno, Bl.

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JOHN OF SALERNO, BL.

Also known as Giovanni (John) Guarna; Dominican preacher; b. Salerno, Italy, c. 1190; d. Florence, Aug. 9 (or Sept. 10), 1242. After receiving the habit from (St.) dominic at Bologna, he was delegated by him to introduce the order into Florence. He founded the priory of Santa Maria Novella in that city and the monastery of the Dominican nuns at Ripoli. gregory ix commissioned him to preach against the patarines, a Manichaean sect, especially in Florence, and to reform the Diocese of Chiusi. pius vi beatified him in 1783.

Feast: Aug. 9.

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum, Sept. 3:626636. Analecta Bollandiana 7 (1888) 8595. Année Dominicaine, 23 v. (Lyons 18831909) Aug. 1:477485. g.gieraths, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 195765) 5:1079.

[a. h. camacho]