John was born on June 24, 1390, in Kanty, a small village in southern Poland. At the age of 23, he enrolled in Jagiellonian University, which is situated in Krakow. John, who was enrolled in the Liberal Arts Department, earned his doctorate in philosophy in 1418. He supported himself by teaching philosophy at the university throughout the next three years as he pursued more coursework in preparation for the priesthood.

As soon as he was ordained, he took a job as rector at the esteemed Canons Regular School of the Most Holy Sepulchre in Miechow. The fact that such a school would give him this job at such a young age was proof of John's extraordinary intelligence and skills. He developed a strong foundation in St. Augustine's literature and spirituality while teaching formation lessons for the young novices.

In 1429, there was a vacancy in the Jagiellonian University's Philosophy Department. For the Job, John swiftly went back to Krakow and settled at the university, where he stayed until his passing. He started studying theology as well, and after 13 arduous years of coursework combined with administrative and teaching responsibilities as the chairman of the Philosophy Department, he eventually earned his PhD. John later became the director of the university's theology department following the passing of his mentor, the distinguished theologian Benedykt Hesse.

John, like the majority of learned men in his era, devoted a large portion of his leisure time to hand-copying theological tracts, manuscripts of the Holy Scriptures, and other academic publications. His extraordinary diligence is demonstrated by the more than 18,000 pages in the 26 volumes that have survived to this day.

Throughout his time in Krakow, John had a reputation among the populace for his kindness and generosity towards the underprivileged, constantly putting the needs of others before his own. He had a special place in his heart for the university's less fortunate students, attending to their academic, physical, and spiritual needs. Everyone recognized him as an ardent supporter of the religion and an adversary of heretics, whether he was speaking in the pulpit or the classroom.

The people of Krakow already regarded the Master from Kanty as a very holy man by the time of his death on December 24, 1473. The many favours and miracles ascribed to John's intercession, starting just after his death, demonstrate that his opinion was completely justified. John from Kanty quickly gained international recognition, attracting pilgrims from various nations to his burial at the university's Collegiate Church of St. Anne.

In spite of this, it wasn't until 150 years later that the beatification procedure started. Pope Clement XIII finally proclaimed him a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in 1676, designating October 20 as his feast day.

The feast day of Saint John of Kanty was first added to the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints in 1770, and it was originally set for October 20. However, in 1969, it was changed to December 23, the day before his death anniversary, which fell on Christmas Eve, 1473.

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