Saint John of God

Saint John of God

  • Short, concise biography of Saint John of God
  • History, Life, Biography, Facts and Information about Saint John of God
  • Fast, concise facts and information
  • Date of Birth and Death
  • Important Dates surrounding the life of Saint John of God
  • Life History, Story, Biography, Myths and Legends
  • Description / Title of the Saint : Friar

Saint John of God

Fast, concise facts and information about Saint John of God
The following provides fast and concise facts and information:

  • Memorial Day / Feast Day of Saint John of God: March 8
  • Description / Title of the Saint : Friar
  • Date of Death: Saint John of God died 1550
 
 

The Story and History of Saint John of God
The story and history of Saint John of God. Nothing in John's early life foreshadowed his future sanctity. He ran away as a boy from his home in Portugal, tended sheep and cattle in Spain, and served as a soldier against the French, and afterwards against the Turks. When about forty years of age, feeling remorse for his wild life, he resolved to devote himself to the ransom of the Christian slaves in Africa, and went thither with the family of an exiled noble, which he maintained by his labor.

On his return to Spain he sought to do good by selling holy pictures and books at low prices. At length the hour of grace struck. At Granada a sermon by the celebrated John of Avila shook his soul to its depths, and his expressions of self-abhorrence were so extraordinary that he was taken to the asylum as one mad. There he employed himself in ministering to the sick. On leaving he began to collect homeless poor, and to support them by his work and by begging. One night St. John found in the streets a poor man who seemed near death, and, as was his wont, he carried him to the hospital, laid him on a bed, and went to fetch water to wash his feet. When he had washed them, he knelt to kiss them, and started with awe: the feet were pierced, and the print of the nails bright with an unearthly radiance. He raised his eyes to look, and heard the words, "John, to Me thou doest all that thou doest to the poor in My name: I reach forth My hand for the alms thou givest; Me dost thou clothe, Mine are the feet thou dost wash." And then the gracious vision disappeared, leaving St. John filled at once with confusion and consolation.

The bishop became the Saint's patron, and gave him the name of John of God. When his hospital was on fire, John was seen rushing about uninjured amidst the flames until he had rescued all his poor. After ten years spent in the service of the suffering, the Saint's life was fitly closed. He plunged into the river Xenil to save a drowning boy, and died, 1550, of an illness brought on by the attempt, at the age of fifty-five.

Feast Day of Saint John of God
The Feast Day of Saint John of God is March 8. The origin of Feast Days: most saints have specially designated feast days and are associated with a specific day of the year and these are referred to as the saint's feast day. The feast days first arose from the very early Christian custom of the annual commemoration of martyrs on the dates of their deaths at the same time celebrating their birth into heaven.

 

Saint John of God

  • Short, concise biography of Saint John of God
  • History, Life, Biography, Facts and Information
  • Fast, concise facts and information about Saint John of God
  • Memorial, or Feast Day, of Saint John of God - March 8
  • History, Life, Biography, Dates, Facts and Information
  • Date of Death: 1550
  • Important Dates surrounding the life of Saint John of God
  • Life History, Story, Biography, Myths and Legends
  • Description / Title of the Saint : Friar
 
 

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Saint John of God