St. John of God

John of God (1495-1550) was many things in his long life: a shepherd, a soldier and mercenary, a book seller, a servant, and a hospital administrator. Everything he did seemed a little crazy. He ran away from home when he was very young, he ran away from being a shepherd to join the army, he reformed his life overnight after he fell off his horse, he decided to help an exiled family by being their servant the first day he met them, he started a hospital to take care of all the sick and poor in the city.

Finally he rented a house in Granada, Spain, and began caring for the sick, poor, homeless and unwanted. He drew to himself a dedicated circle of disciples. St. John organized his followers into the Order of Hospitallers, who care for the sick in countries around the world. This order has been officially entrusted with the medical care of the Pope.

John is a patron of firefighters, booksellers, and hospitals. His Feast Day is March 8.