Apparently, during his entire stay in the United States, St. John Nepomuk Neumann wore only one pair of boots.
On this day St. John Nepomuk Neumann, the only male citizen of the United States that has been declared a saint of the Catholic Church so far, died. He was a Catholic priest and a member of the Redemptorists. Actually, he was born on the territory of Bohemia, in Prachatice not far from České Budějovica. His name John Nepomuk comes from, of course, the name of a famous Czech saint St. John of Nepomuk. In the United States he traveled when he was about 24 years old. He was ordained a priest in New York.
In the year 1852 St. John Nepomuk Neumann became Bishop of Philadelphia. He was known for his modesty. For example, when he got new robes, he usually did not keep them for himself, but gave them to the priest who was at the time most recently ordained. Apparently, during his entire stay in the United States he wore only one pair of boots. He died only 48 years old in Philadelphia.
He was declared a saint by Pope Paul VI in 1977. Catholics in the United States celebrate this day, January 5, to commemorate the day of his death, i.e. birth to Heaven.
