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<img height='175' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/994.jpg'> 
Saint John of God (Scott 994)
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Saint John of God (1495-1550), born in Portugal, is the founder of the Brothers Hospitallers. The stamp above was issued in 1995 as part of a three-stamp set also honoring Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Philip Neri. After a period of military service on behalf of Castile he retired to Andalusia to work as a shepherd. At approximately age 40 he was converted to a life of service to God. After a few turbulent years, he established a hospital for the care of the sick, including those suffering from mental illness, as well as the poor in Granada. John was a person of devotion and energetic service on behalf of those he served. He became ill after rescuing a drowning man in a flood and subsequently died. Following his death, his co-workers drew up rules to continue his work, taking vows to form a religious order, with John of God enshrined as its founder. Saint John of God was canonized in 1690 and is considered a major Spanish religious figure. 
Article Links: Thomas Crimando, Vatican Notes, Volume 44, Number 4, pp 5-6, 1996, <a href='http://vaticanstamps.org/vaticannotes/idisplay2.php?p=264-05&r=0'>New Issues</a>

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