The Diocese of Fort Worth celebrates the feast day of Saint John of God, patron saint of hospitals and the sick.

March 8th marks the feast of Saint John of God, a Portuguese monk who was declared the patron saint of hospitals and the sick by Pope Leo XIII in 1886, according to Britannica. 

"Happy Feast of St. John of God!" the Diocese said in a Facebook post. "St. John lived the last 15 years of his life in hard service on behalf of the sick and the poor. He was born to very religious parents but fell away from the moral and Christian upbringing. Late in adulthood, he experienced a conversion which led him to discover his vocation. In Granada, he rented a house to gather the sick, poor, and homeless. He provided medical, physical, and spiritual aid to them until his death."

Born in 1495 in Portugal, John worked as a shepherd and later as a soldier before deciding to dedicate his life to caring for the poor and the sick after being moved by the sermons of John of Avila. In 1537, he opened a house in Granada where he could dedicate his time towards caring for those in need until his death, according to Britannica. 

"Let us pray for hearts of compassion and generosity," the Diocese continued. "O God, You filled Saint John with the spirit of compassion. Grant that by practicing works of charity we may deserve to be numbered among the elect in Your kingdom. Amen."

According to Franciscan Media, Saint John of God's feast day is celebrated on March 8 in order to pay tribute to Saint John and his followers who formed the Brothers Hospitallers after his death. John passed away from pneumonia on March 8, his 55th birthday, after jumping into a river to save a boy from drowning, according to Catholic.org.