Watch the video: https://youtu.be/sHRI77R6vSM

I had just gone to Confession at St. Mary’s Church in York, Pennsylvania when upon walking out into the vestibule, I saw a painting of a young, strong faced bishop with a cross hung around his neck. I learned his name from the plaque on the frame: “St. John Neumann, pray for us.” This painting reminded me of many others I’d seen in Churches all throughout the diocese and even across New York. My mind was plagued with questions about him.  What did he do? Why are there so many portraits of him in northern churches? Little did I know that he built 89 churches in the course of seven years and opened almost a hundred schools. The ground that I walked on was sanctified by his heroic sacrifice more than a hundred years ago. Upon further research, I found that his intransigent personality is best understood when you look at his early days as a missionary priest on the rough frontiers of 19th century America.  In this video you’ll hear of his apostolate at Niagara Falls and Buffalo where he cured a blind girl, shut down an immoral dance at a dangerous bar, publicly debated protestants in their own meeting house and was almost hanged by ruffians. 

These are the books that I used for my research:

“Life of the Right Rev. J.N. Neumann, C.SS.R.” by Johann Berger. New York: Benziger Brothers, 1884. 22. Print.

“Blessed John Neumann: Fourth Bishop of Philadelphia” by James 
Galvin. Baltimore: Helicon Press, Incorporated, 1964. 79. Print.

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Ever Mindful Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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