Saint John Grande
Saint John Grande (born June 6, 1546 AD in Carmona, Seville, Spain; died June 3, 1600 AD in Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain) was a Spanish brother of the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of God who cared for the sick, prisoners, and the destitute in Jerez de la Frontera with such extravagant charity that he was called el Grande — the Great — by the people, though he himself preferred el Grande Pecador — the Great Sinner. He died nursing plague victims in Jerez. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1996. His feast day is June 3.
Stored in Cargo: Saint John Grande
| Saint John Grande | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 03 |
| Profession | Hospitaller brother; nurse; hermit; servant of the poor and prisoners |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of God; Jerez de la Frontera |
| Patronage | Jerez de la Frontera; Cádiz; prisoners; the sick; plague victims; hospital workers; those who serve the poor |
| Attributes | Hospitaller habit; hospital bed (nursing the sick); prison bars (ministry to prisoners); plague victims; the name ''Grande'' (the Great) |
| Birthplace | Carmona, Seville Province, Andalusia, Spain |
| Death Place | Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz Province, Andalusia, Spain |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom of charity; died nursing plague victims in Jerez de la Frontera, June 3, 1600 |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Our Lady of the Rogation (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Consolación), Jerez de la Frontera, Spain — his relics; patronal shrine of Jerez |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast June 3; observed in Spain and within the Order of Saint John of God |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; observed locally |
Biography
Juan Grande Román was born on June 6, 1546 in Carmona, Seville. He worked in the linen trade in Jerez de la Frontera as a young man, but after the death of his parents he abandoned commerce, distributed his inheritance among the poor, and began a life of solitary prayer in a hermitage near Jerez.
He could not remain alone: the sight of the sick in the public hospital and the prisoners in the city jail drew him out of his hermitage. He began visiting them daily, bringing food and medicine that he begged from the city's wealthier citizens. He personally washed and bandaged wounds, slept in the hospital to care for the dying through the night, and accompanied prisoners to their executions.
The people of Jerez began calling him Juan Grande — John the Great — for the extravagance of his charity. He insisted on being called Juan Grande Pecador — John the Great Sinner — turning the title into an act of humility.
He joined the Order of Saint John of God (Hospitallers), which provided an institutional home for his work. He founded and ran a hospital at Jerez. When plague struck the city in 1600, he nursed the sick without regard for his own life; he contracted the disease and died on June 3, 1600.
Pope John Paul II canonized him on June 2, 1996.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Carmona, Seville Province, Andalusia, Spain
Death location: Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz Province, Andalusia, Spain
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Basilica of Our Lady of the Rogation, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain — his relics; patronal shrine.
Feast day
June 3
Veneration
Saint John Grande is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on June 3, observed in Spain and within the Order of Saint John of God. He is the patron of Jerez de la Frontera.
Prayers
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