John of God

Life events

1. born — 1495

   Born João Cidade Duarte on 8 March 1495 in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal.

2. other — 1538

   Underwent a dramatic conversion in Granada at age 42 after hearing a sermon by John of Ávila on the feast of St Sebastian; briefly confined as mad before redirecting his fervour to caring for the sick poor.

3. other

   Founded the first hospital of what would become the Hospitaller Order of St John of God (Ordo Hospitalarius Sancti Ioannis de Deo), pioneering reforms in the dignified care of the mentally ill and the dying.

4. died — 1550

   Died 8 March 1550 in Granada. Canonized 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII; declared patron of the sick and of hospitals by Leo XIII in 1886.

Relationships