Having given up active Christian belief while a
soldier, John was 40 before the depth of his sinfulness began to dawn on him.
He decided to give the rest of his life to God’s service, and headed at once
for Africa, where he hoped to free captive Christians and, possibly, be
martyred.
He was soon advised that his desire for martyrdom was
not spiritually well based, and returned to Spain and the relatively prosaic
activity of a religious goods store. Yet he was still not settled. Moved
initially by a sermon of St. John of Avila (May 10), he one day engaged in
a public beating of himself, begging mercy and wildly repenting for his past
life.
Committed to a mental hospital for these actions, John
was visited by St. John of Avila, who advised him to be more actively involved in
tending to the needs of others rather than in enduring personal hardships. John
gained peace of heart, and shortly after left the hospital to begin work among
the poor.
He established a house where he wisely tended to the
needs of the sick poor, at first doing his own begging. But excited by the
saint’s great work and inspired by his devotion, many people began to back him
up with money and provisions. Among them were the archbishop and marquis of Tarifa.
Behind John’s outward acts of total concern and love
for Christ’s sick poor was a deep interior prayer life which was reflected in
his spirit of humility. These qualities attracted helpers who, 20 years after
John’s death, formed the Brothers Hospitallers, now a worldwide religious
order.
John became ill after 10 years of service but tried to
disguise his ill health. He began to put the hospital’s administrative work
into order and appointed a leader for his helpers. He died under the care of a
spiritual friend and admirer, Lady Ana Ossorio.
Stories:
The archbishop called John of God to him in response
to a complaint that he was keeping tramps and immoral women in his hospital. In
submission John fell on his knees and said: "The Son of Man came for
sinners, and we are bound to seek their conversion. I am unfaithful to my
vocation because I neglect this, but I confess that I know of no bad person in
my hospital, except myself alone, who am indeed unworthy to eat the bread of
the poor." The archbishop could only trust in John's sincerity and
humility, and dismissed him with deep respect.
Comment:
The utter humility of John of God, which led to a
totally selfless dedication to others, is most impressive. Here is a man who
realized his nothingness in the face of God. The Lord blessed him with the
gifts of prudence, patience, courage, enthusiasm and the ability to influence
and inspire others. He saw that in his early life he had turned away from the
Lord, and, moved to receive his mercy, John began his new commitment to love
others in openness to God’s love.
Quote:
The archbishop called John of God to him in response
to a complaint that he was keeping tramps and immoral women in his hospital. In
submission John fell on his knees and said: “The Son of Man came for sinners,
and we are bound to seek their conversion. I am unfaithful to my vocation
because I neglect this, but I confess that I know of no bad person in my
hospital except myself alone, who am indeed unworthy to eat the bread of the
poor.” The archbishop could only trust in John’s sincerity and humility, and
dismissed him with deep respect.
Patron Saint of:
Booksellers
Firefighters
Heart patients
Hospitals
Nurses
Printers
Sick
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