John of God, St

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John of God, St (1495–1550). Holy fool and founder of the ‘Brothers Hospitallers’. Born in Portugal and piously brought up, he became a soldier and abandoned religious practice. When he was about 40, he was converted and sought to atone for his former life. Unsuccessful in his bid for martyrdom in Morocco, he returned to Spain and lived a life of sanctity marked by excesses of penitence and devotion. Under St John of Avila's influence, he diverted his energies to the care of the sick and poor. His order took shape after his death.

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