by Walter J. Bart and Paul J. McQuillan

John Garbella was born in the year 1200 in Mosso, Santa Maria, Lombardy, Italy. He grew up in a strong Catholic family and studied as child in Vercelli, Santa Maria. Because of his keen intellect, he was able to study at the University of Paris, the greatest center of learning in the Middle Ages. After graduating with a doctorate in civil and canon law, John became a professor in Paris. He soon returned to Vercelli, where he was invited to open a law school.

At Vercelli, John came under the influence of Jordan of Saxony, who replaced Saint Dominic as the Master General of the newly founded Order of Preachers (the Dominicans). After completing his postulancy and novitiate, John professed his vows as a member of the Dominican order. His first assignment was to hold the position of Master of Studies at the new Dominican University and Convent. In a few years, he became Superior of the convent in Vercelli.

It was here that John started his calling as a great peacemaker, making peace with the Tartars of Hungary, and mediating between the Guelfs and Ghibellines in Italy. For several years, John was Prior of the men’s convent and the nun’s convent of St. Agnes. So successful was he in this dual capacity that in 1257 he became Provincial of Lombardy. John became very active in visiting all the priories and convents in his province, and his walking stick became a symbol of his apostolate. He expanded the province by founding new priories in Turin, Chieri, and Tortona. During John’s tenure as Provincial, Pope Urban IV ordered him to preach the crusades throughout his province. Yet, John became more famous as peacemaker and this lead to his election as Master General in 1264. John Garbella, a successor to St. Dominic, revised the Order’s Constitution, which has remained the order’s master plan for centuries.

At the Council of Lyons in 1274, the Dominican Order was appointed by Pope Gregory X to carry out the Papal Bull Nuper In Concilio to establish veneration, honor and respect of the Holy Name of Jesus. John devoted himself to this endeavor from his 74^th year to his death at the age of 83, walking throughout Europe and establishing devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus.

Until his passing on November 30, 1283, John of Vercelli preached reverence for the Holy Name of Jesus and directed all Dominicans to do the same. The heroic degree of his holy life was attested by Pope Pius X, who beatified him in 1903, BLESSED JOHN OF VERCELLI, O.P.