8th March - Saint John of God - Independent Catholic News

8th March - Saint John of God - Independent Catholic News: Founder of the Brothers Hospitallers. Patron of hospitals, the sick, booksellers and printers. St John was born in Portugal in 1495. For a few years he was a mercenary for the Count of Oroprusa and fought for Spain against the Turks in Hungary and the French. John gave up religious practice while he was in the army. When his troop disbanded he went to Andalusia and worked as a shepherd.