John was born in Portugal in 1495 to middle-class parents who were strong in their faith. At the age of eight he disappeared from home, showed up as a sick and homeless orphan in Spain, and was taken in and cared for by a shepherd. At 27, rather than give in to the shepherd’s insistence that John marry his daughter, John joined the Spanish army. Over the next 18 years, he slid away from his faith and joined his fellow soldiers in drinking, pillaging, and other immoral behavior. A remnant of his faith remained, however, and he would pray when in distress and give alms to the poor. When his unit was disbanded, he committed himself to a life of repentance. He opened a religious bookstore, then opened his house to the poor as a hospital and homeless shelter. He spent the last 15 years of his life selflessly caring for the most disadvantaged in his community.
CHALLENGE
St. John of God said, “Do good to yourself by doing good for others.” After his death, the example he set inspired others to continue his work, and the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God was founded. Today, they have provinces all over the world, helping the sick, suffering, aged, and mentally ill. Give them a donation today.
The end of life is a difficult time, and the Catholic Church has a rich history of teachings and traditions to help people have a holy death, as well as grieve and pray for those who have departed from this world. Passing Time is a rich resource on the topics of suffering, death, and Purgatory, compiled from a variety of classical Catholic texts. Buy your copy today.
