Once John was traveling home after a day of work, when he saw a child, whose feet were bleeding because he had no shoes. John picked up the child and carried him to the next town. All the while, his burden was getting heavier and heavier, until he was forced to put the boy down and rest. Suddenly the child changed and appeared as the Christ Child, Who held up to him half a pomegranate saying, "John of God, you will find your cross in Granada." The Spanish word granada means "pomegranate."
John heard John of Avila preach and felt he still must do something to show his sorrow for sins. He began publicly beating himself; he ran through the streets, tearing his hair, and behaved so excitedly that people threw stones at him to drive him away. This man, who felt his need for God so deeply, was put into a mental institution.
When John of Avila heard of the effect his sermon had on John, he went to the hospital and calmed John, persuading him to use his energy caring for the sick and poor. John left the hospital and rented a house near Granada. Out into the streets he went to find the poor and uncared for. What a hospital he had! The lepers, the lame, the insane, the paralyzed, the deaf-all found shelter there.
In the beginning John went begging for money to support these poor, but soon people came to give him alms, food, and supplies because they were so impressed with his charity. Once when a fire broke out in the house, John ran back into the burning building countless times, carrying the sick out on his back. Unemployed men came to the door, and he found them work. When the archbishop called John to his office because people complained that John kept tramps and immoral women in his hospital, he was silenced by John's humility. John fell on his knees, saying, "I know of no bad person in my hospital except myself, who am unworthy to eat the bread of the poor." Another bishop who invited John to supper was so impressed by his humility that he called him John of God.
John attracted many helpers. After his death, these formed a religious community called the Brothers Hospitallers.
John died of a disease he contracted while saving a drowning man; his illness was made worse because he had exhuasted himself. When he realized he was dying, John went over all the hospital accounts, revised the rules and schedules of his staff, and appointed a leader to take his place. He died March 8, 1550, kneeling before the altar in his hospital chapel.
St. John is patron of Hospitals, the Sick, Nurses, Booksellers, Printers, those with heart disease