This is a syndicated post from Divine Office - Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Catholic Church. [Read the original article...]

March 8

Saint John of God, Religious

Optional Memorial

Saint John of God was born in 1495 in Portugal. His parents were very devout and upon his mother’s death, John’s father entered religious life. The young John began working as a shepard for a local farmer and quickly grew in favor with the man. When he was offered the heir to the farm, as well as the farmer’s daughter, John turned down the offer and decided to become a soldier.

Under King Charles V, John fought valiantly but he realized he enjoyed working the printing press and selling religious books and pictures more. Upon a stay in Granada, he heard a sermon by St. John of Avila and was encouraged to follow the religious life more fully. He pilgrimaged to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadeloupe and once there, discovered his calling to aid the sick and infirmed. St. John of God worked tirelessly for the ill and is remembered as a heavenly helper to those who are in the hospital or dying. He was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII in 1690.*

Written by Sarah Ciotti
*Catholicpedia: The Original Catholic Encyclopedia (1917) for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. s.v. “St.John of God.”
Note: Optional Memorials and Commemorations are optional celebrations and, at present, we do not include content specific to these special days. This “About Today” is provided so that you can celebrate this Saint as you worship Christ.

The English translation of The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) ©1974, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Surgeworks, Inc for the Divine Office Catholic Ministry. DivineOffice.org website, podcast, apps and all related media is © 2006-2011 Surgeworks, Inc. All rights reserved. (69)

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