8 March: Saint John of God, Patron Saint of the Vatican Pharmacy

“Extreme” charity

Saint John of God’s name was Juan Ciudad. He was born in 1495 in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, where he spent his early years, before moving to Oropesa, Spain, when he was eight years old. He took part in two wars, one in Fuenterrabía in the Pyrenees and one in Vienna against the Turks. Following these events, he returned to Spain and embarked on a long spiritual journey that took him to various cities, including Seville, Ceuta, Gibraltar and Granada, where he worked as a book seller. After hearing a sermon by John of Avila, he underwent a profound spiritual transformation that led him to declare his “folly” for God, to the point that he was committed to the Royal Hospital of Granada. When he was discharged, he decided to dedicate himself entirely to serving the Lord.

After deciding to be guided by Saint John of Avila, Saint John of God went on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Upon his return from Granada, he began his mission of helping the poor, the sick and those in need, assisting marginalized people, such as the poor and the prostitutes living on the streets. His original approach in asking for charity, in which he invited people “to do good to yourselves! Fate bene fratelli (Brothers, do good)”, attracted many volunteers and benefactors.

In 1539, he founded his first hospital on Via Lucena, called “House of God”, where he offered hospitality to anyone. Along with his first companions, he provided assistance to those in need. In the same year, he received the religious habit from the Archbishop of Granada, who also gave him the name, John of God, which had already been attributed to him by the people. He died on 8 March 1550, surrounded by a fame of holiness. His companions later founded the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, Fatebenefratelli.

He was proclaimed Patron Saint of hospitals and the sick by Leo XIII in 1886, Patron Saint of nurses and their associations by Pius XI in 1930, and second Patron Saint of Granada by Pius XII in 1940.