ST JOHN OF GOD, RELIGIOUS.
ST JOHN OF GOD, FOUNDER.
"One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”
"Jesus replied: “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
"The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
"The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
"And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions." (Mark 12: 28 - 34).
Friday 8th March 2024 in the 3rd Week in Lent is the feast of St John of God.
the feast of St John of God. (1495 - 1550). Religious. Born Portuguese. Worked and died in Spain. A prodigal of some sort in his younger days. Once he was converted at the age of 40, everything changed. He became fired up with ministry to the poor and the sick. John was a man of many talents and at various times became a farmer, soldier and merchant. His followers founded Brothers Hospitallers of St John.
I knew St John of God as a pamphleteer because at the time I first read his biography, I used pamphlets for evangelization. He became my patron saint and is still one of my patron saints.
St John of God is the patron saint of hospitals, nurses, booksellers, pamphleteers.
In the Gospel of today from Mark 12, Jesus teaches us the greatest commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
This is what St John of God, our Saint of today believed and lived after his conversion at the age of 40. John writes:
"We owe God three things: love, service, and reverence. Love: as our heavenly Father we should love him above all the things of the world..... And above all, always have charity, for this is the mother of all the virtues."
Love of God and love of neighbor are the twin pillar of the spiritual life. St Joseph who we honor in March excel in both.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Joseph is a man of high purity and chastity. God chose him to be the husband of Mary because God had fitted him with the appropriate graces to protect the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Church considers St Joseph the greatest Saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is so fittingly named the Patron of the Universal Church. Remember that he was the Guardian of Jesus and in his intercessory role, you can believe that Jesus will deny nothing to Joseph.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
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