John of Meda

John of Meda, Ord.Hum., (1100 – 26 September 1159) also known as John of Como, was an Italian monk of the Humiliati Order and abbot at their monasteries at Milan and Como. He has been declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

Life He was born Giovanni Oldrati (or Oldradi) in the town of Meda, Lombardy. Receiving a vision of the Virgin Mary, in 1134, he felt called to join the Humiliati at their Abbey of Viboldone. This was a religious movement widely viewed with suspicion as heretical because its communities consisted of families and men and women following the monastic form of life, with the former serving as the community leaders.

John came to work for their adoption of the Benedictine Rule, adapted to their needs. Later, John went on to found other monasteries of the Order in the regions of Milan and Lombardy. He spent his later life serving as an abbot, and is known for introducing the Little Office of Our Lady.