May 7 | Saint John of Beverly

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, we are traveling all the way back to the misty, mysterious moors of 7th century England. Imagine this. You've finally found the ultimate quiet spot. No buzzing notifications, no group chats, no drama, and no chores. Just you and a peaceful, unbreakable silence.

You've committed your entire life to this peace, stepping away from the chaotic world. To focus entirely on your relationship with God. But then, there's a knock at the door. The world needs you. You are asked to leave your quiet sanctuary behind and lead thousands of people. This isn't a movie plot. This was the incredible reality for today's saint, Saint John of Beverly.

John was born in Harpham, Yorkshire, in England. From the time he was a young guy, right around your age, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his future. He wanted to devote his life completely to God, and he chose his schooling specifically to make that happen. He traveled to study at the famous ecclesiastical school of St. Theodore, the Archbishop of Canterbury. When he finished his rigorous schooling, John headed back home to Yorkshire and joined a Benedictine monastery. For John, this was the absolute dream.

Monks in the Benedictine order lived lives of deep quiet and routine. John devoted his life to contemplation, perfectly content to spend his days in silence and prayer. He likely thought he would spend the rest of his life there, out of the spotlight.

But God had a much wilder, much busier plan. The church recognized John's wisdom and holiness, and he was called away from his beloved contemplation and thrust directly into public ministry. In the year 687, John was consecrated as a bishop. Talk about a massive career change.

For 18 long years, he served as a bishop, making tough decisions and leading the people. But here is the amazing secret to his success. He never let the busyness of his job steal his peace. Even as a busy public leader, John still prioritized spending time with the Lord in prayer. His leadership was so impressive that when the Archbishop of York, St. Bossa, passed away, John was transferred there to take his place. He served as the Archbishop of York until his retirement in 717.

John performed astonishing miracles both during his lifetime and after he died. The most famous and dramatic of these miracles involved a young man who had been completely mute for his entire life. Imagine never being able to speak a single word, unable to express your thoughts, tell a joke, or ask for help. Through God's power, John cured this young man, giving him the ability to speak. But the story doesn't end with a quick magical fix. In a beautiful twist of humility and kindness, John sat down with the young man and patiently taught him the alphabet.

He took the time to teach him how to read and write. He didn't just heal the boy's voice, he gave him the educational tools to use it. After retiring in 717, John finally got his greatest wish. He went right back to the quiet, contemplative life he had always wanted as a young man. He passed away in a monastery in Beverly in the year 721. But his impact was far from over. He was officially canonized as a saint in 1037 by Pope Benedict IX.

His burial site became one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in all of England, and he was deeply revered by heavy hitters of English history, like the famous mystic Julian of Norwich and St. John Fisher. John's life gives us two things you can put into practice this week. First, find your own monastery time. Our lives are loud, filled with school, sports, and screens. John was an incredibly busy leader, but he still prioritized his quiet time with the Lord. Find 10 minutes today to just sit in silence, turn off the notifications, and talk to God.

Second, remember the mute boy. John didn't just perform a miracle and walk away. He sat down and patiently taught the boy the alphabet. Today, look for an opportunity to be patient with someone. Maybe help a younger sibling with their homework, or take the time to explain a tough concept to a classmate. Use your voice and practice the virtue of patience to lift someone else up, just like St. John of Beverly did. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.