Saint John of God

Saint John of God was a man who cared deeply for the sick and the poor. He was born in Portugal in the year 1495. He spent much of his life in Spain. He is known for starting a group that helped people who were sick, homeless, or forgotten. He gave everything he had to help others.

His real name was João Cidade. In Spanish, he is known as Juan de Dios. He is now called Saint John of God. He is the founder of the Brothers Hospitallers, a group that still serves the sick today.

John did not live a perfect life from the beginning. He made mistakes. He joined the army. He wandered from place to place. But one day, he heard a sermon that changed him. He felt called to live a new way. He chose to care for others instead of himself.

He began helping the poor and the sick in the city of Granada. People did not always understand him. Some thought he was strange. But he kept going. He trusted that God wanted him to help people who were suffering.

John of God died in 1550. The Church later made him a saint. He is now the patron saint of hospitals, nurses, and the sick.

John of God was born in 1495 in a small village in Portugal. His name was João Cidade. When he was about eight years old, he left home. No one knows exactly why. Some say he ran away. Others say he was taken. He never saw his parents again.

He lived many years away from his family. He worked as a shepherd in Spain. As he got older, he joined the army. He fought in wars. During this time, he lived like many soldiers. He drank, gambled, and lived for himself.

Later, he left the army and tried different jobs. He sold books and religious pictures. He still did not know what to do with his life. He felt empty. He wanted something more, but he did not know what it was.

One day, he heard a sermon by Saint John of Ávila. The priest spoke about Jesus and how people should live. The words hit John hard. He felt sorry for his past. He began to cry in front of everyone. People thought he was not well.

John was taken to a hospital for people with mental illness. It was a hard time for him. But something changed in him. He began to pray. He wanted to live for God and for others.

After he left the hospital, he decided to help the poor. He gave away his things. He wanted to live simply. He knew his life had a new purpose now.

After his time in the hospital, John of God stayed in the city of Granada. He saw many people who were poor, sick, and alone. Many had no home. Some had no one to care for them. He decided to help them, even if no one else would.

At first, he had nothing. He begged for food and money, not for himself, but for others. He found small places where the sick could stay. He cleaned their wounds. He helped them eat and rest. He treated each person with care.

Many people did not understand what he was doing. Some thought he was crazy. Others made fun of him. But John kept going. He believed that every sick or poor person was like Jesus. He did not turn anyone away.

Over time, some people began to notice his good work. A few gave him money or supplies. Others came to help him. Slowly, his small work grew into something bigger. But he always stayed close to the people. He never thought he was better than them.

John of God did not just help with medicine. He listened to people. He prayed with them. He made them feel seen and loved. He gave them dignity when the world had forgotten them.

As John of God kept caring for the sick, people began to take notice. Some wanted to help him. Others gave money or supplies. His small work slowly became a larger mission. He was no longer alone.

John never planned to start a group. But his way of caring for the sick touched many. A few men began to work with him full time. They helped clean, feed, and care for the people in his shelter. They followed John’s example.

A local bishop saw the good work and gave his support. He helped guide the group and gave it structure. This helped others trust what John was doing. The bishop also gave John the name for the group: the Brothers Hospitallers.

The group kept growing, even after John’s death. The men took simple vows. They promised to serve the sick and poor with kindness. The Brothers Hospitallers soon spread to other cities and countries. Today, they still care for the sick in many parts of the world.

John of God did not begin with a plan. He just loved people and wanted to help. But God used his love to build something that would last.

In his last years, John of God kept working hard. He cared for the sick every day. He carried heavy loads. He cleaned wounds. He stayed up late to help people. His body grew weak from all the work.

One day, he saw a man drowning in a river. John jumped in to save him. He pulled the man out, but the cold water made John very sick. After a short time, he died. He was 55 years old. He died on March 8, 1550.

People who knew him said he was a holy man. They remembered his kindness and love. Many believed he was a saint. Over 100 years later, in 1690, the Church officially declared him a saint. His feast day is March 8.

Today, Saint John of God is the patron saint of hospitals, nurses, the sick, and people who work in healthcare. The Brothers Hospitallers still serve in many countries. They run hospitals, clinics, and homes for people in need.

John of God did not set out to be famous. He just helped one person at a time. His love for the poor and the sick continues through the work of others. His story reminds us that simple acts of care can grow into something great.

St John of God: Heavenly Patron of the Sick and Dying, Nurses and Hospitals

This book tells the story of Saint John of God, a man who lived a life of struggle, change, and service. He was a soldier, a traveler, and later a caregiver to the sick and poor. The book follows his journey, from battle to faith, and how he started helping people in need. It also shows how others joined him and how his work grew. He faced many hard times but stayed faithful. His care for the sick led to the founding of hospitals. Saint John of God is now honored as the patron of hospitals, nurses, the sick, and the dying.