This act of mercy must have had an effect on him, because he soon gave up his free-willing life to join the Benedictines. In fact, it is said that after the incident, he entered the Benedictine church at San Miniato al Monte to pray when the corpus on the crucifix bowed its head to him in recognition of his generous and merciful act. Giovanni begged Christ for forgiveness and that week cut off his hair and began wearing an old habit that he had borrowed. This story is the basis for the painting "The Merciful Knight."
Though his father was against it, Giovanni joined the Benedictine order and sought out a simple, penitential life. He spoke out against simony, which both his abbot and bishop were participating in. He left his order for a stricter religious life. He settled in Vallombrosa where he founded his own monastery in 1036. Brother Giovanni admired St. Basil and St. Benedict and hoped to model his order on their writings. One notable difference from other monasteries, instead of installing a traditional garden, the monks at Vallombrosa planted fir and pine trees.
Brother Giovanni became known for his compassion and care
for the poor and sick. Pope Leo IX even travelled to Vallombrosa to see him. Yet
the Vallombrosian order did not grow very big, as the austere life was
difficult, and their role in the anti-simony campaign of the time did not win
them many supporters. They did, however, grow to 15 monasteries and receive
protection by Pope Urban II in 1090.
St. Giovanni died July 12, 1073. Because of the forest
he and his brother monks planted, he is the patron of forest workers, park
rangers, parks, and Brazilian forests. His feast day is July 12.
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