St John of God

Although John’'s parents raised him to know and love God, John thought he knew better and him and his friends turned away from God and did what they wanted to do.  When John was 40 years old, all the things that he thought would make him happy, made him sad and lonely instead.  He felt like his heart was empty.  One day at Church he heard St. John of Avila talking about God and John realized that what he needed in his life was God.  With St. John of Avila’'s help, John started to live his life for God.  The Bishop nicknamed him John of God, because he could really see that John was giving his whole life to God.  He opened a house in Spain to care for the poor, sick and homeless; it became a little hospital where he cared for people and told them about God'’s love.  He also started an Order of men that cared for the poor, called the Brothers of St. John of God.