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Also known as: Juan de Dios
Profile
He grew up working as a shepherd, misspent a wild youth, and traveled
over much of Europe as a soldier and mercenary. Fought through a brief
period of insanity. In his 40's, to make up for the misery he had caused
as a soldier, he left the military, rented a house in Granada, Spain,
and began caring for the sick, poor, homeless and unwanted. He gave what
he had, begged for those who couldn't, carried those who could not move
on their own, and converted both his patients and those who saw him work
with them. John founded the Order of Charity and the Order of
Hospitallers of Saint John of God. Friend of Saint John of Avila. His
motto: "Labor without stopping. Do all the good works you can while
you still have the time."
Born: 8 March 1495 at Montemoro Novo, Evora, Portugal
Died: 8 March 1550 while praying before a crucifix, dying from a
illness contracted while saving a drowning man
Canonized: 1690
Name Meaning: God is gracious (= John)
Patronage: alcoholics, alcoholism, bodily ills, bookbinders,
booksellers, dying people, firefighters, heart patients, hospitals,
hospital workers, nurses, publishers, printers, sick people, sickness,
Tultepec Mexico
Readings
Labor without stopping; do all the good works you can while you still
have the time.
Saint John of God
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