Almoner? That’s someone who distributed alms to the poor. John lived in the late 6th and early 7th centuries. He was rich… no, he was RICH. John was also born into nobility (as such existed at that period of time). But by the time he had reached the age of 50, he had buried his wife and his children, and then decided to dedicate his life in service to his “Masters.”

Here’s the amazing thing about John, though. He took a position in Egypt, very high up in the church hierarchy. And when he was asked for a list of his Masters–by way of an organizational flow chart. The people of Alexandria wanted to know who John’s boss was, and who his boss’s boss was. You know–in case they had to complain about John to someone.

Well John responded in this way–his capital-M Masters? “The Poor.” That’s right, the capital-P Poor! As far as John was concerned, the Poor were the ones that John felt responsible to. In fact, by that time John had already divested his personal fortune on behalf of the Poor. Once in a position of power, here’s how John began exercising it–he got systemic! He demanded that a uniform system of weights and measures be used by merchants so that the poor would not be cheated by them. He forbade all those in positions of power to accept gifts or gratuities (read “bribes”) from the rich. He opened the coffers of the church’s treasury in Alexandria and distributed it to hospitals and other mission centers.

When church leaders bitched John out about impoverishing the church (you know how you gotta save some “reserve capital”?), John pulled rank and told them that they needed to show some faith that God would provide for them instead of simply preaching that message to the Poor. Further, John went to bat with governors and political overlords if taxes or other policies disadvantaged the Poor, and did so with such sincerity and generosity of spirit–backed up by his own life of integrity–that he was successful more often than not. (What religious leaders have the ear of our people in power today?)

John also had time to hear the concerns of anyone–female or male–who wished to lay their troubles before him. His attitude was “How could I ever expect God to hear my petitions if I don’t make time for those of my sisters and brothers?”

So much more than an Almoner, John is a saint worthy of recognition.