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 St.
JOHN OF GOD
- Source:
Catholic Online
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From the time he was
eight to the day he died, John followed every impulse of his heart. The
challenge for him was to rush to follow the promptings the Holy Spirit
gave him, not his own human temptations. But unlike many who act
impulsively, when John made a decision, no matter how quickly, he stuck
with it, no matter what the hardship.
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In Spain, he spent
his days unloading ship cargoes and his nights visiting churches and
reading spiritual books. Reading gave him so much pleasure that he decided
that he should share this joy with others. He quit his job and became a
book peddler, traveling from town to town selling religious books and holy
cards. A vision at age 41 brought him to Granada where he sold books from
a little shop.
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John may have been
positive that God wanted him to start a hospital for the poor who got bad
treatment, if any, from the other hospitals, but everyone else still
thought of him as a madman. It didn't help that he decided to try to
finance his plan by selling wood in the square. At night, he took what
little money he earned and brought food and comfort to the poor living in
abandoned buildings and under bridges. Thus, his first hospital was the
streets of Granada.
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Throughout his life,
he was criticized by people who didn't like the fact that his impulsive
love embraced anyone in need without asking for credentials or character
witnesses. When he was able to move his hospital to an old Carmelite
monastery, he opened a homeless shelter in the monastery hall.
Immediately, critics tried to close him down saying he was pampering
troublemakers. His answer to this criticism always was that he knew of
only one bad character in the hospital and that was himself. His urge to
act immediately when he saw need got him into trouble more than a few
times. Once, when he encountered a group of starving people, he rushed
into a house, stole a pot of food, and gave it to them. He was almost
arrested for that charity! Another time, on finding a group of children in
rags, he marched them into a clothing shop and bought them all new
clothes. Since he had no money, he paid for it all on credit!
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John was ill himself
when he heard that a flood was bringing precious driftwood near the town.
He jumped out of bed to gather the wood from the raging river. Then, when
one of his companions fell into the river, John without thought for his
illness or safety jumped in after him. He failed to save the boy and
caught pneumonia. He died on March 8, his fifty-fifth birthday, of the
same impulsive love that had guided his whole life.
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John of God is
patron saint of booksellers, printers, heart patients, hospitals, nurses,
the sick, and firefighters and is considered the founder of the Brothers
Hospitallers.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
The Father Speaks
By Fr. S. Binzler, SJ
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Reflection
By Fr. Agustinus Tupen Belo, PR
Community Life
By Tintin Magbitang
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautist
God Answers Prayers
By Beth Manibog
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
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