JOHN of MATERA, saint. – Born in Matera in 1070 and died on 20 June 1139. After several years of eremitical life, he founded around 1100 a monastery near Ginosa. He was in contact with St William of Montevergine. Around 1130 he founded the Congregation of the monks of St Mary of Pulsano (known as the Pulsanesi), on Monte Gargano, adopting the Benedictine Rule according to a strict interpretation.
This Congregation enjoyed rapid development and counted more than twenty monasteries spread even into Sicily, Tuscany, and Liguria. At Pisa the monks were called the Scalzi. Successors of J. of M. were the blessed Jordan (d. in 1145) and the blessed Joel (d. in 1177). At the end of the 14th century, upon the death of the last abbot Anthony, the abbey of Pulsano passed into other hands and the Congregation died out. The feast of St J. of M. is celebrated on 25 June.