Saint John of God

Saint John of God is the founder of the Order of Hospitallers, a Roman Catholic religious order of nursing brothers. He was born in Portugal. He lost his mother at an early age. He was separated from his father by being abducted and taken to Spain. He worked as a shepherd boy to support himself until age twenty and then joined the army. As a soldier, John was not a practicing Christian, and he was 40 when he reviewed his life and vowed impulsively to make a change. For a while, he peddled religious books and pictures in Gibraltar, but when he was about 45, the Infant Jesus appeared to him one day in a vision and said: "John of God, you will find your cross in Granada."

In Granada, he was so stirred by a sermon of St. John of Avila that he distributed his possessions and gave himself up to such public lamentations over his wasted youth that he was considered demented. St John of Avila, however, counseled him, and after that, he devoted himself entirely to the care of the sick and the poor. Renting a small house in Granada, he would carry to it the infirm who could not reach it by themselves. Immediately on their arrival, he would wash their feet and offer them a Crucifix to kiss, after which he would put them to bed and urge them to have a priest hear their confession. Working alone, he would keep the house clean and in order and see to the food, the dressings, and the medicines. He used his old experience as a peddler to beg alms, crying through the streets, "Do good to yourselves! For the love of God, Brothers, do good!" 

St. John was a true helper and consoler to widows, orphans, fallen women, poor students, and the unemployed. A bishop who invited John to supper was so impressed by his humility that he called him John of God. He died on 8 March 1550 while praying on his knees before the altar. In 1886, Pope Leo XIII declared him patron of hospitals and the sick. 

Saint John of God, obtain for us a spirit of compassion and enable us to engage in works of charity.

Prepared and updated by:

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.