Saint John of God

"Love the poor tenderly, regarding them as your masters and yourselves as their servants."
- Saint John of God (1495 - 1550)

Today is the feast day of Saint John of God. John was born in 1495 in Portugal. When John was 40, he began to realize the depth of his sinful life, and so he decided to go to Africa to free captive Christians and to possibly be martyred. However, he was advised that his desire to go to Africa and be martyred was not spiritually well based. John then decided to go back to Spain. Inspired by a sermon by Saint John of the Cross (from Avila, Spain), he publicly beat himself, begged for mercy, and repented for his past life. For his actions, John was put into a mental hospital where he was visited by Saint John. Saint John advised him to be more involved in tending to the needs of others rather than in enduring his own personal hardships. After this, John gained peace of heart. Soon, John left the mental hospital and started a house where he tended to the needs of the sick poor. He started out begging for money and provisions that he could use to help the poor, but later was helped by others who were inspired both by his work and devotion. After ten years of serving the sick poor, John became ill. He died in 1550. 

Saint John of God, pray for us!

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Picture Of And Information About Saint John of God Taken From:

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saintofday/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABrooklyn_Museum_-_St._John_of_God_-_Pedro_Nolasco_y_Lara_-_overall.jpg