John Kanty also called John of Malec Kanty Maleus de Martha Wacięga was born in 1390 probably in the hamlet situated next to the Kety called Malec, or Marta. His father’s name was Stanislaw, mother was named Martha. Probably John's father was a shepherd who, after becoming rich led the life of the assets of a wealthy townsman and even became the mayor of it.
In 1413 he enrolled on the Faculty Artium called Artists in Krakow paying 6 cents fee. After five years of philosophical studies in the year 1418 reached the title of master artium. In 1421 accepted the post of head of the convent school in Miechow. In this position he spent eight years. In that time had copied a lot of theological manuscripts which include the works of St. Augustine:
He copied the brief sermon and various notables as Matthew Nicholas Kozlowski, Paul Krakow from Zator and others from this period that were related to the legend of his travels to Rome and Palestine. Perhaps they stemed from the fact that at that time a sanctuary was created and poor people who could not afford the pilgrimage to Palestine came there. The fact that he had visited Rome seems to be more likely.
In 1429 he returned to Cracow, where as a member of the Collegium Maius collegiatus took classes at the Faculty of Artium and began to study theology. He was the dean of the faculty in the winter semesters of 1432 / 3 1437 / 8 and half years of 1438. He studied theology under the direction of the philosopher and theologian Benedict Hesse. Since the study which usually lasted 7-10 years he had to combine with professorial duties at the Department of Philosophy until 1443 when he received a master degree which was then the equivalent of a doctorate. In the year 1439 he was a cantor at the cathedral of St. Florian which was connected with the parish of Olkusz. Seized with the spirit of reform the church renounced the canon and the rectory because he thought it not right to collect revenue from the parish on which it is not working.
Probably after death of his master, Benedict Hesse in 1456 he took his chair at the faculty of theology. At that time, still very much posted on this job spending the whole night on prescribing texts he often put his personal notes colophons so that testify to his great devotion to the work. He started almost every invocation: In nomine Domini and the ends with feelings of gratitude to God and the Blessed Mother Saints: Deo gratias et Matri Dei Virgini Gloriose cum totius celestis curiae militia per infinita secula seculorum. Amen. Ad laudem Dei. The memory of John Kantym passed to the tradition as a Great John. He gave away everything he earned.
Taking into account the prescribed texts it should be said that in his youth, he dealt mainly with St. Augustine in later years as a theologian he copied most writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas. In the year 1460 for a short time he held the position of superior Collegium Maius but he tried to live by the rules which had written on the wall of his cell at the College of the Greater: "Beware of offending someone to apologize for not bliss".
He was a master of a truly loving a good book and his desire to serve the people about the size of John did not decide, however, his writings but the sanctity of life. Since the beginning of his career, the university supported the young people and care for the poor. After his death, a number of legends appeared. Passing these repeated often in the lives of the holy witness to the fact that in Krakow where lived so many pious and excellent people, John was extremely popular and the unique aura of goodness and holiness of his character surrounded him. No wonder that the cult of the sanctity of his person has blossomed in Krakow and Malopolska almost the day after his death, which occurred in Krakow on 24 Dec 1473. The reputation of sanctity is further evidenced by burial at St. John's Anna in the pulpit because of the 1539 the worship of the Holy in place of a wooden coffin, metal one was founded. 10 years later in church a stone tomb was founded which is currently at the College of the Greater. Today's altar in St. Anne's, in shape resembling a confession of St. Peter's in Rome.
In 1628 conducted in Krakow on behalf of the bishop Szyszkowski beatification process, unfortunately had not been recognized by the pope and in 1667 was repeated in Rome. On the basis of this line was the solemn beatification on 27 September 1680. The canonization process because of doubts about the authenticity of some of the codes attributed to John Kanty lasted long time. Finally, Pope Clement XIII on 16 Jul 1767 delivered amid a bull canonization ceremony announcing John Cantius. His holy feast was introduced into the missal and breviary on 20 October.
The cult of St. evolved from the beginning on two levels: it was revered on the one hand as a great almsgiving and the other hand, as a university tutor. For both of these planes, we would like to make choosing John Cantius a patron of our High School: naming ceremony will be held on Divine Mercy Sunday and on the commemorative board will be the names of students wanted to be his benefactor.
