Saint Juan Grande
Religieux de l'Ordre de Saint-Jean de Dieu en
Espagne (+ 1600)
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/11778/Saint-Juan-Grande.html
15 OCTOBRE 2015
Saint Jean Grande est né à Carmona, près de Séville en
Espagne en 1546. A l’âge de 19 ans, il abandonne sa profession de commerçant
pour se retirer du monde et prend le nom de « Jean le Pêcheur » sous lequel il
sera connu jusqu’à sa mort.
Il s’installe à Xérès où il se consacre à Dieu en
secourant avec sollicitude les prisonniers, les prostituées, les pauvres et les
malades incurables. Il fonde un hôpital qu’il appelle « l’Hôpital Notre-Dame de
la Présentation » qu’il unit, en 1574, à l’Ordre hospitalier de saint Jean de
Dieu. Il accueille ensuite de nouveaux disciples avec lesquels il ouvre
d’autres centres d’assistance.
Homme d’une extraordinaire miséricorde, comme le bon
Samaritain, il développe sa spiritualité hospitalière grâce à une profonde vie
intérieure. Son esprit de prière et sa disponibilité totale au sacrifice font
de lui un mystique de l’hospitalité.
A la demande de l’archevêque de Séville, il mène à
bonne fin la réforme de l’assistance sanitaire de Xérès et des villes limitrophes,
en favorisant toujours les plus démunis.
Il meurt en 1600, victime de sa charité infatigable,
après avoir été contaminé en secourant les pestiférés.
Il fut béatifié par Pie IX, le 3 novembre 1853, et
canonisé par Jean-Paul II, le 3 juin 1996.
‘ Les
saints et bienheureux de l’Ordre
SOURCE : https://www.saintjeandedieu.fr/saint-jean-grande-1546-1600/
Juan Grande Román (1546-1600)
Religious, O.H.
He completed his human formation and vocational
training in Seville, learning the trade of a weaver and cloth-maker. At 17 he
returned home and turned to trade, selling cloth. Shortly afterwards, his work
caused him to undergo a profound spiritual crisis.
Opting for God
He left his family and retired to the Hermitage of St
Olalla, at Marchena, a town near Carmona, where he spent a whole year in
retreat trying to discover his true vocation. He then decided to devote himself
to God: he exchanged his clothes for a sack-cloth habit, renounced marriage and
adopted the nickname of "Juan Pecador" ("John the Sinner").
At the same time he began caring for an elderly couple
of downed-outs: he took them into his own home and catered for all their needs,
going out to beg for alms for them. He then realized that his new vocation was
to serve the poor and needy.
Opting totally for the poor
When he was only 19 years old, Juan Pecador moved to
Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, to start a new life there: he personally looked
after needy people, prisoners in the 'Royal Prison', incurably sick and
convalescents who had been left to their own devices. To help them he would beg
for alms around the town.
During this time he used to frequent the church of the
Franciscans, where he prayed and took spiritual advice from one of the Fathers.
Founding the "Hospital de la Candelaria"
(Candlemas Hospital)
He did everything he could to cater for their needs
and eventually decided to found a hospital of his own, which he gradually
extended. He devoted it to Mary and called it "Our Lady of
Candlemas".
Union with St John of God
Juan Pecador devoted his whole being and all his work
to God, expressed through his service to the poor, sustained by his deep life
of faith and prayer.
Meanwhile, he had heard of the Institution founded by
St John of God in Granada. He visited it in 1574 and decided to join it,
accepting the rules and applying the same form of professed life in his own
hospital.
With his new project, his witness and his exemplary
self-giving he attracted new companions to join him, and he trained them
according to "The Statutes of John of God".
This gave him the opportunity to reach more widely a
field and work with other foundations in Medina Sidonia, Arcos de la Frontera,
Puerto Santa Maria, San Lucar de Barrameda and Villamartin.
Reducing the number of hospitals
The care provided to the destitute sick in Jerez left much to be desired, while small centres mushroomed. The authorities therefore decided to reduce the number of hospitals, demanding greater efficiency. But thus measure struck at the interests of not a few, whose attachment to the hospitals was not so much out of a desire to serve the sick, but because they were a source of personal profit. His path was therefore fraught with criticism, opposition and obstacles.
Juan Pecador's hospital was also affected. Like all the others, he submitted
his report to the authorities, explaining his way of caring for the sick in his
hospital.
The Archbishop of Seville, Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro,
entrusted the delicate mission of reducing the number of hospitals and raising
efficiency to Juan Pecador, whom he considered to be the most appropriate and
skilled person for this task in view of his spirit, vocation and Hospitaller
experience. John Grande set about reducing the number of hospitals boldly and
lovingly, and despite the great and small difficulties he encountered, he
revealed his particular sensitivity, capacity, sense of humour and great
virtue.
The report on his hospital stated that the care was
provided "with diligence, care and great charity, doing good and serving
God our Lord, because he and his brothers of the cloth are virtuous men and
practise this charity of caring for the needy sick".
The topical relevance of John Grande today
In addition to an intense interior life John Grande
devoted himself body and soul to the external task of seeking out, caring for
and serving the poor and sick, and showing his concern for the most serious and
urgent issues of his day: prisoners, the convalescing sick and the incurably
ill, prostitutes, rejected sick soldiers, abandoned children, etc. He truly
practised all the works of mercy.
John Grande was a man who did good because he was
good: a practical and efficient man of few words, a merciful tenant of the
Gospel of Life, a Good Samaritan, an organizer of hospitals and of hospital
care, a critical conscience against injustice, abuse of authority and
inadequacy. In short, he was a prophet and apostle of health care.
The plague epidemic and his death
When he was 54, living his life dedicated entirely to
his community and his hospital Jerez was stricken by a terrible outbreak of the
plague. He worked everywhere, assisting the people, and devoting all his
strength and generosity to them; but he was eventually infected himself, and
died on Saturday 3rd June 1600.
His glorification
Beatified in 1853 by Pius IX and canonized by John
Paul 11 on 2nd June 1996, he was proclaimed the Patron Saint of the new Diocese
of Jerez de la Frontera in 1986.
His remains are venerated in the "Diocesan Shrine
of St John Grande" in Jerez, at the hospital of the Brothers of St John of
God that bears his name.
SOURCE : https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19960602_juan-grande-roman_en.html
Juan Grande Roman was born in Carmona, Seville, Spain, on 6th March 1546. His parents, Cristobal Grande and Isabel Roman, were devout Christians. Juan Grande was baptized by the parish priest, Andrés Muñoz. He was given a sound Christian upbringing, firstly in his family and after the age of seven as a choir-boy in his parish. Juan was a choir boy from age 7 to 12. Juan’s father, a craftsman, died when John was only eleven years old.
Juan Grande completed his human formation and vocational training in Seville, learning the trade of a weaver and cloth-maker. At the age of 17, he returned to Carmona to start his own shop, selling cloth. Shortly afterwards, however, his work caused him to undergo a profound spiritual crisis. At the age of 19 he left his family and business behind, gave away his possessions, and became a hermit at Marcena.
In the Hermitage of St Olalla, at Marcena, a town near Carmona, he spent a whole year in retreat trying to discover his true vocation. He then decided to devote himself to God. He exchanged his clothes for a sack-cloth habit, and renounced marriage. Since then he referred to himself not just as Juan Grande, but Juan Grande Pecador or John the Great Sinner.
When he was only 19 years old, Juan Pecador moved to Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, to start a new life there. He personally looked after needy people, prisoners in the 'Royal Prison', incurably sick and convalescents who had been left to their own devices. To help them he would beg for alms around the town. And he soon realized that his new vocation was to serve the poor and the needy.
During this time he used to frequent the church of the Franciscans, where he prayed and took spiritual advice from one of the Fathers. Juan Pecador worked in prisons and hospitals in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. Juan Pecador attracted the admiration of the people of Jerez because of his generous life of charity.
In January 1574 a serious epidemic broke out in Jerez, and he addressed a petition to the Cathedral Chapter urging them to assist the many sick people who had been cast out on to the streets. During the outbreak of the plague, he organized a group to help tend to victims, and they were very successful. In fact, he did everything he could to cater to their needs. With the aid of a wealthy couple in the area, he eventually founded and managed a hospital at Jerez. He devoted it to Mary and called it ‘Our Lady of Candlemas’.
Juan Pecador devoted his whole being and all his work to God, expressed through his service to the poor, sustained by his deep life of faith and prayer. Meanwhile, he had heard of the Institution founded by St John of God in Granada. He visited it in 1574 and decided to join it, accepting the rules and applying the same form of professed life in his own hospital. Eventually he affiliated the place with the Order of Hospitallers.
With his new project, his witness and his exemplary self-giving he attracted new companions to join him, and he trained them according to ‘The Statutes of John of God’. This gave him the opportunity to reach more widely a field and work with other foundations in and around Spain.
The care provided to the destitute sick in Jerez left much to be desired, while small centres mushroomed. The authorities therefore decided to reduce the number of hospitals, demanding greater efficiency. But this measure struck at the interests of not a few, whose attachment to the hospitals was not so much out of a desire to serve the sick, but because they were a source of personal profit. Juan’s path was therefore fraught with criticism, opposition and obstacles.
Juan Pecador's hospital was also affected. Like all the others, he submitted his report to the authorities, explaining his way of caring for the sick in his hospital. The Archbishop of Seville, Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro, entrusted the delicate mission of reducing the number of hospitals and raising efficiency to Juan Pecador. The Archbishop considered Juan to be the most appropriate and skilled person for this task in view of his spirit, vocation and Hospitaller experience.
John Pecador set about reducing the number of hospitals boldly and lovingly, and despite the great and small difficulties he encountered, he revealed his particular sensitivity, capacity, sense of humour and great virtue. The report on his hospital stated that the care was provided ‘with diligence, care and great charity, doing good and serving God our Lord, because he and his brothers of the cloth are virtuous men and practice this charity of caring for the needy sick’.
In addition to an intense interior life John Grande devoted himself body and soul to the external task of seeking out, caring for and serving the poor and sick, and showing his concern for the most serious and urgent issues of his day. They included the prisoners, the convalescing sick and the incurably ill, prostitutes, rejected sick soldiers, abandoned children, etc. He truly practiced all the works of mercy.
Juan Pecador was a man who did good because he was good. He was a practical and efficient man of few words, a merciful tenant of the Gospel of Life, a Good Samaritan, an organizer of hospitals and of hospital care, a critical conscience against injustice, abuse of authority and inadequacy. In short, he was a prophet and apostle of health care.
Juan was blessed with mystical gifts, and predicted the fall of the Spanish Armada. He ran afoul of many in authority, chastising officials and those who ran charities when they lived well, and those they were supposed to serve continued to suffer. He arranged anonymous dowries for poor girls so they could marry and avoid lives on the street. He fed and clothed prisoners and refugees, and died tending to plague victims.
When Juan Pecador was 54, living his life dedicated entirely to his community and his hospital in Jerez, he was stricken by a terrible outbreak of the plague. He worked everywhere, assisting the people, and devoting all his strength and generosity to them. But he himself was eventually infected by the plague, and died on Saturday 3rd June 1600.
Juan Pecador was beatified by Pius IX in 1853. Pope John Paul II canonized him on 2nd June 1996. He was proclaimed the Patron Saint of the new Diocese of Jerez de la Frontera in 1986. His feast is celebrated on 3 June. His remains are venerated in the ‘Diocesan Shrine of St John Grande’ in Jerez, at the hospital of the Brothers of St John of God that bears his name.
You have been listening to INSPIRING LIVES, a weekly series based on the lives of Catholic Saints from around the world, brought to you by Vatican Radio’s English Service for South Asia.
By P.J. Joseph SJ
Also known as
John the Great Sinner
Juan Grande Pecador
Juan Grande Román
Juan Grande
Juan Pecador
Profile
Raised in a solidly Christian family,
John was a choir
boy from age 7 to 12. He was apprenticed in
the linen business in Seville, Spain from
age 15, and then returned to Carmona, Spain to
start his own shop. At age 19 he left business behind, gave away his
possessions, and became a hermit at
Marcena. Referred to himself not just as Juan Grande, his given name,
but Juan Grande Pecador (John the Great Sinner).
Worked in prisons and hospitals in Jerez
de la Frontera, Spain.
With the aid of a wealthy couple in the area, he founded and managed the Hospital
de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candlemas) at Jerez.
He affiliated the place with the Order of Hospitallers, handing it over
to Saint John of
God, and joining the Order himself at Granada, Spain in 1574.
During an outbreak of the plague in 1574, he
organized a group to help tend to victims; they were very successful. At the
request of the Archbishop of Seville, Spain he
completely reformed the Church‘s
health care system in the diocese,
improving efficiency and services.
John was blessed with mystical gifts,
and predicted the fall of the Spanish Armada. He ran afoul of many in
authority, chastising officials and those who ran charities when
they lived well, and those they were supposed to serve continued to suffer.
Arranged anonymous dowries for poor girls so
they could marry and
avoid lives on the street. He fed and clothed prisoners and
refugees, and died tending
to plague victims.
Born
6 March 1546 at
Carmona, Andalusia, Spain
3 June 1600 at Jerez, Spain of plague
relics at
the diocesan Shrine
of Saint John Grande, Saint John Grande Hospital, Jerez
13 November 1858 by Pope Blessed Pius
IX
2 June 1996 by Pope John
Paul II
diocese of Jerez
de la Frontera, Spain
Additional Information
books
Book of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other sites in english
sitios en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
sites en français
Ordre Hospitalier Saint Jean de Dieu
fonti in italiano
nettsteder i norsk
MLA Citation
“Saint John Grande“. CatholicSaints.Info. 4 April
2020. Web. 3 June 2021. <http://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-grande/>
SOURCE : http://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-grande/
St. John Grande
June 3, Hermit
Source: Catholicsaints.info
• Worked in prisons and hospitals in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. With the aid of a wealthy couple in the area, he founded and managed the Hospital de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candlemas) at Jerez. He affiliated the place with the Order of Hospitallers, handing it over to Saint John of God, and joining the Order himself at Granada, Spain in 1574. During an outbreak of the plague in 1574, he organized a group to help tend to victims; they were very successful. At the request of the Archbishop of Seville, Spain he completely reformed the Church‘s health care system in the diocese, improving efficiency and services.
•John was blessed with mystical gifts, and predicted the fall of the Spanish Armada. He ran afoul of many in authority, chastising officials and those who ran charities when they lived well, and those they were supposed to serve continued to suffer. Arranged anonymous dowries for poor girls so they could marry and avoid lives on the street. He fed and clothed prisoners and refugees, and died tending to plague victims.
• relics at the diocesan Shrine of Saint John Grande, Saint John Grande Hospital, Jerez
SOURCE : https://catholic.net/op/articles/2527/cat/1205/st-john-grande.html
Blessed John Grande (AC)
Born at Carmona, Andalusia, Spain, in 1546; died at Xeres,
in 1600; beatified in 1853. John was a linen merchant but decided to become a
hermit at Marcena. From that time to his death he made a pun of his surname,
which means "great." He called himself Juan Grande Pecador or John
the Great Sinner. He left his cell to work in the prisons and hospitals at
Xeres, where a new hospital was left entirely in his care. This he handed over
to Saint John of God and took the habit of the latter's new order at Granada.
He died while care for prisoners and the sick (Benedictines).
SOURCE : https://web.archive.org/web/20191227045100/http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0603.shtml
Saint John Grande
- Professed Religious
Saint of the Day
: June 3
Other Names :
• John the Great Sinner • Juan Grande Pecador
• Juan Grande Román • Juan Grande
• Juan Pecador
Born :
6 March 1546 at Carmona,
Andalusia, Spain
Died :
• 3 June 1600 at Jerez, Spain of plague
• Relics at the diocesan Shrine of Saint
John Grande, Saint John Grande
Hospital, Jerez
Carmona, in the Spanish providence of Andalusia, was
the birthplace of John Grande. After
his father’s death, when he was only 15, John was sent to Seville, learned the
ways of the linen trade, and was set up in business in his home town,
apparently by a Sevillian relative.
But John was anything but a born shopkeeper; his eyes
were on more heavenly things. So when he was only 22, he gave his goods away to
the poor and went to live in a hermitage outside Marchena. There he dedicated
himself to seeking perfection. John was already noted for his goodness of
character; he, on the contrary, claimed that he was monstrously unworthy. Playing on his own surname, “Grande”, he replaced it
with the name “El Grande Pecador” (“the Great Sinner”) Ever after, Andalusia
knew him by this substitute name.
His quest for perfection and his natural tenderness
led him from prayer and penance into works of mercy. He once encountered two
sick tramps along the highway. These he mercifully took into his little
hermitage and nursed back to health, begging funds for them. Soon other such
unfortunates pleaded for his assistance. It was now revealed to him that this was his
vocation–to serve God in the persons of the needy.
On the strength of this conviction, he left his
hermitage and went to the wine-making town of Xeres, Portugal. Here he obtained
permission to serve those in jail. For the next three years he ministered to
them in every way possible, working under wretched conditions. Though badly treated, he was able to move the hearts
of many calloused criminals to repentance.
Then John moved into the hospital at Xeres. Because of
his devotion towards the neglected patients, he incurred the jealousy and
persecution of those in charge of the hospital. But others saw and appreciated
what he was trying to do. Two wealthy admirers established a new hospital
themselves and gave him charge over it. Many selfless young men offered to help
El Grande Pecador. To ensure continuity in the hospital staff, John himself
enrolled in the nursing Order of St. John of God. John of God had died in Seville when John Grande was a
small child, but this nursing order was already becoming international.
Blessed John did not limit his attention to the sick
and imprisoned. Whenever any need was perceived, he answered it. Abandoned
kids, poor girls who needed dowries, fugitive soldiers. All these received-from
him the gentlest and most helpful aid. He was also recipient of high mystical gifts: ecstasy
(sometimes at unexpected and embarrassing times); prophet (he is said to have
predicted the defeat of the Spanish Armada).
Yet solicitude for the sick was John’s most
characteristic concern. In 1600 Xeres was stricken with a terrible epidemic.
The Great Sinner sallied forth to do his part. He himself became a victim of this plague, dying of
the infection at the age of 54.
John the Sinner had fed the hungry, given drink to the
thirsty, clothed the naked, sheltered the homeless, visited the ill and those
in prison. He had gone still further in charity, laying down his life for his
brothers. And all this he had done for Christ whom he saw mirrored in the eyes
of the helpless. Thus he
deserved more than many to be greeted at heaven’s gate by the welcome, “Come … Inherit
the kingdom.”
Source : Lives of saints –Father Robert F. McNamara
SOURCE : https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2018/06/saint-john-grande-professed-religious.html
Santuario Diocesano San Juan Grande (Jerez de la
Frontera)
San Giovanni Grande Religioso
Carmona (Spagna), 1544/6 - Jerez de la Frontera, 3
giugno 1600
Ben presto gli si affiancarono dei discepoli e verso
il 1574 egli decise di fondere il suo gruppo con quello sorto a Granada per
iniziativa di San Giovanni di Dio. Vestito l'abito dei Fatebenefratelli, egli
continuò a prodigarsi nella città andalusa di Jerez de la Frontera, dove nel
1589 ebbe anche l'incarico dalle autorità locali di riorganizzare l'intera rete
ospedaliera della città. Morì assistendo gli appestati il 3 giugno 1600.
Martirologio Romano: A Jerez nell’Andalusia in Spagna, san Giovanni Grande, religioso dell’Ordine di San Giovanni di Dio, che rifulse per la sua carità verso i prigionieri, gli abbandonati e gli emarginati e morì contagiato lui stesso dalla peste mentre curava i malati.
A undici anni perde il padre, l’artigiano Cristoforo Grande. Più tardi ne segue le orme, andando a imparare il mestiere di tessitore nella vicina Siviglia. Sui 17 anni ritorna a Carmona, avvia un commercio di tessuti, ma due anni dopo è già diventato un altro. Non veste più il buon panno di cui è intenditore: lo vedono girare col saio di penitente. E non si presenta più come Giovanni Grande Román (con i cognomi del padre e della madre, secondo l’uso spagnolo). Vuole essere chiamato “Giovanni Peccatore”. Accoglie in casa due vecchi coniugi abbandonati. Chiede anche l’elemosina, per mantenerli, dà tutto sé stesso. E questi due infelici col loro soffrire gli danno un’idea. L’idea della sua vita. L’idea lo spinge, verso i vent’anni, da Carmona a Jerez de la Frontera (così chiamata perché era un centro fortificato dei sovrani di Castiglia sul confine del regno arabo di Granada). Anche qui va in giro per le strade a chiedere. Ma soprattutto a spiegare: di strada in strada e di anno in anno, sensibilizza la gente su due situazioni inique di sofferenza: quella dei convalescenti di cui gli ospedali si liberano alla svelta, dichiarandoli guariti; e quella dei cosiddetti incurabili, abbandonati dalle “strutture” del tempo. In queste sue campagne di informazionee di denuncia gli danno aiuto i Francescani di Jerez. “Giovanni Peccatore” scuote molte coscienze e ottiene aiuti per una prima infermeria, destinata a tutti quelli che gli ospedali respingono. Non ha ancora trent’anni e ormai in Jerez è un’autorità, che aiuta e orienta i governanti locali. Nelle emergenze sanitarie si ricorre a lui, e quando chiede sostegno per la sua attività la risposta è positiva. Anche perché tutti vedono, per esempio, come funziona la sua infermeria per i “malvisti”: e sono pronti ad aiutarlo quando decide di trasformarla in un vero e completo ospedale, da lui dedicato alla Madonna, col titolo di Nostra Signora della Candelora.
Si arriva al 1574. Giovanni Grande ha 30 anni. Un singolo e semplice laico, che qualcosa ha costruito anche per la fiducia personale che ispira; è lui che ascoltano e che aiutano. Ma ora pensa al dopo. Alla stabilità di quello che ha già potuto creare. E a questo punto scopre che un altro semplice laico ha lavorato come lui per i malati e ha messo insieme un gruppo di altri laici, che dopo la sua morte si sono costituiti in congregazione religiosa. Quest’altro laico, di origine portoghese, è conosciutissimo in Spagna col nome di Giovanni di Dio (1495-1550). E altrettanto conosciuti sono i membri della sua congregazione, col nome popolare di “Fatebenefratelli”.
Giovanni Grande li incontra a Granada, nello stesso anno 1574. E decide di unirsi a loro, introducendo nel suo ospedale i precetti e le norme che essi seguono. E così avviene per gli ospedali da lui fondati nelle città dell’Andalusia, tutti pilotati dal comandamento dell’accoglienza per i rifiutati di ogni condizione: incurabili, detenuti, prostitute, e anche gli espulsi dall’esercito reale di Filippo II. Nel 1600 scoppia a Jerez una violenta epidemia di peste.
Giovanni organizza l’assistenza, e va a farla di persona nelle strade e nelle case, finché la peste colpisce anche lui, che ne muore con tanti altri, a 56 anni. Nel 1986 papa Giovanni Paolo II lo ha proclamato santo. Custodisce i suoi resti il santuario a lui dedicato, nell’ospedale dei Fatebenefratelli di Jerez.
Autore: Domenico Agasso
Giovanni Grande Román nasce a Carmona presso Siviglia in Spagna il 6 marzo 1546 da Cristoforo Grande e Isabella Román, una famiglia profondamente cristiana, e viene battezzato dal parroco Andrés Muñoz. Suo padre, che di professione fa l'artigiano, muore, quando Giovanni ha 11 anni.
Riceve un'accurata istruzione cristiana, prima in seno alla famiglia, poi, dall'età di sette fino a dodici anni, come " fanciullo del coro " nella sua parrocchia.
Perfeziona la sua formazione umana e professionale apprendendo l'arte della tessitura a Siviglia. A 17 anni torna a Carmona e si dedica al commercio di tessuti. Ma ben presto la sua professione gli provoca una profonda crisi spirituale.
Opzione per Dio
Lascia la sua famiglia e si ritira nell'eremo di Santa Olalla a Marchena, un paese vicino a Carmona, dove per un anno conduce una vita eremitica di preghiera per conoscere la sua vera vocazione. Si sveste degli abiti secolari, indossa un ruvido saio e decide di dedicarsi totalmente a Dio. Rinuncia al matrimonio e adotta l'appellativo " Giovanni Peccatore " come soprannome.
Nello stesso tempo si prende cura di un'anziana coppia di coniugi completamente abbandonati a se stessi: li conduce nella sua abitazione e provvede alle loro necessità chiedendo l'elemosina. In questo modo intuisce che la sua nuova vocazione è il servizio ai poveri e ai bisognosi.
Opzione definitiva per i poveri
A soli 19 anni, Giovanni Peccatore si trasferisce nella città di Jerez de la Frontera, presso Cadice, dove inizia una nuova vita prendendosi cura dei detenuti del Carcere Reale e di malati convalescenti e incurabili abbandonati a se stessi. Per aiutarli chiede l'elemosina sulle strade della città.
Contemporaneamente frequenta la chiesa dei Padri Francescani, dove si raccoglie in preghiera e si consiglia con uno dei Padri.
Fondazione dell'Ospedale della Candelora
Giovanni Peccatore si guadagna presto l'ammirazione dei cittadini di Jerez per la sua generosa vita dedita alla carità.
Nel 1574 scoppia una grave epidemia a Jerez. Scosso dall'inerzia generale, Giovanni indirizza un memoriale alle autorità municipali sollecitando urgenti misure di assistenza per il crescente numero di malati abbandonati a se stessi sulle strade, mentre si prodiga per soccorrerli. Forte di questa esperienza, decide alla fine di fondare un proprio ospedale che poco a poco va realizzandosi ed ampliandosi. Lo dedica alla Santissima Vergine chiamandolo Ospedale di Nostra Signora della Candelora.
Aggregazione a San Giovanni di Dio
L'essere e l'agire di Giovanni Peccatore hanno come unica ragione Dio: rendere visibile Dio attraverso il servizio ai poveri. In questo sforzo si poggia su un'intensa vita di fede e di preghiera.
Appreso che a Granada esiste un'istituzione con scopi molto simili ai suoi, fondata da Giovanni di Dio, vi si reca nel 1574 e decide di unirsi ad essa, seguendone le regole ed adottando nel suo ospedale la stessa forma di vita professata.
Il suo progetto, la sua testimonianza e il suo impegno esemplare attraggono altri uomini che diventeranno suoi compagni a cui dà una formazione secondo " gli statuti di Giovanni di Dio ".
Ciò gli rende possibile ampliare la sua azione attraverso la creazione di altre fondazioni a Medina Sidonia, Arcos de la Frontera, Puerto Santa Maria, San Lúcar de Barrameda e Villamartín.
La riduzione degli ospedali di Jerez
L'assistenza ai malati più poveri di Jerez lasciava molto a desiderare. D'altro canto, nella città andavano aumentando a dismisura i piccoli centri assistenziali. Di fronte a questa situazione le autorità decidono la riduzione dei molteplici piccoli ospedali per favorire una maggiore efficacia del servizio sanitario. Ma la misura urta gli interessi di non pochi, affezionati ai piccoli centri non tanto per amore ai malati, quanto per i benefici personali che ne traevano. Perciò il piano incontra forti critiche, resistenze e opposizioni.
La misura tocca anche l'ospedale di Giovanni Peccatore che, al pari degli altri interessati, presenta alle autorità un suo memoriale in cui spiega come vengono assistiti i malati nel suo ospedale.
Chiamato a decidere a chi affidare una missione tanto delicata, l'arcivescovo di Siviglia, Cardinale Rodrigo de Castro, sceglie Giovanni Peccatore, in cui scorge la persona più adatta e capace a tale scopo per il suo spirito, la sua vocazione e la sua esperienza ospedaliera. Giovanni Grande affronta la riduzione con coraggio e amore dimostrando di fronte ai non pochi dissapori che ne nascono, grande sensibilità, capacità, carattere e virtù.
Del suo ospedale si legge in una nota informativa redatta all'epoca che l'assistenza viene realizzata " con diligenza, cura e molta carità, facendosi un'opera molto utile e un buon servizio a Dio nostro Signore, perché egli e i suoi fratelli d'abito sono uomini virtuosi e professano la carità di curare i poveri infermi".
Attualità di Giovanni Grande
Forte di un'intensa vita interiore, Giovanni Peccatore si è dedicato anima e corpo ad assistere, curare e servire i poveri e gli infermi dedicando una speciale attenzione ai casi più gravi ed urgenti quali: detenuti, malati convalescenti e incurabili, prostitute, soldati malati cacciati dall'esercito, bambini abbandonati, ecc. A ben guardare, praticò tutte le opere di misericordia.
In Giovanni Grande incontriamo un uomo che seppe " far bene il bene " a partire dalla bontà del suo essere. Uomo di poche parole, votato all'efficienza pratica, servo misericordioso del " Vangelo della Vita ", Buon Samaritano, organizzatore esperto di ospedali e del servizio sanitario, coscienza critica di fronte alle ingiustizie, agli abusi e alle carenze, Giovanni Grande era in definitiva un vero profeta ed apostolo dell'assistenza sanitaria.
Epidemia di peste e morte
All'età di 54 anni, Giovanni Grande, pienamente occupato a gestire il suo ospedale e a guidare la sua comunità, si trova a fronteggiare una terribile epidemia di peste che in quell'epoca colpì Jerez. Si prodiga con tutte le sue forze per i contagiati, rimanendo alla fine egli stesso contagiato, e muore per le conseguenze della malattia il 3 giugno 1600.
Glorificazione
Viene beatificato da Pio IX il 13 novembre 1853 e
canonizzato da Giovanni Paolo II il 2 giugno 1996. Proclamato patrono della
diocesi di Jerez de la Frontera nel 1986, i suoi resti sono conservati nel
Santuario Diocesano di San Giovanni Grande nell'omonimo ospedale dei
Fatebenefratelli di Jerez.
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Fonte: |
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Santa Sede |
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90630
Hospital Juan Grande (salida del centro geriátrico) - Jerez de la Frontera (España)
Juan Grande Román, Santo
Religioso, 3 de junio
Por: . | Fuente: ParroquiaSanJuanGrande.es
Patrón de la Diocesis de Asidonia-Jerez
(1546-1600)
Martirologio Romano: En Jerez, en la región
española de Andalucía, san Juan Grande, religioso de la Orden Hospitalaria San
Juan de Dios, insigne por su dedicación a los cautivos, abandonados y
marginados, que, cuidando de los apestados durante una epidemia, falleció al
haberse contagiado. († 1600)
Breve Biografia
Juan Grande Román nació en Carmona, Sevilla, España, el sábado 6 de marzo de 1546. Sus padres fueron Cristóbal Grande e Isabel Román, matrimonio muy cristiano, y fue bautizado por el párroco Andrés Muñoz. Su padre, artesano de oficio, falleció cuando Juan tenía 11 años.
Recibió una esmerada educación cristiana, primero en el seno familiar, y desde los siete años como "niño de coro" de su parroquia.
Su formación humana y profesional la completó en Sevilla aprendiendo el oficio de pañero o tejedor. A los 17 años volvió a su casa y se dedicó al comercio como vendedor de telas. Poco tiempo después el mismo oficio le hizo entrar en una profunda crisis espiritual.
Opción por Dios
Dejó su familia, y se retiró a la Ermita de Santa Olalla, en Marchena, población cercana de Carmona, donde pasó un año en retiro, tratando de conocer su verdadera vocación. Decidió entonces dedicarse totalmente a Dios: dejó su ropa y se vistió de un hábito de jerga; renunció al matrimonio y adoptó el sobrenombre de " Juan Pecador".
Inició al mismo tiempo la experiencia de atender a un matrimonio anciano que encontró en abandono: los llevó a su habitación, les cuidaba en sus necesidades y pedía limosna para ellos. Con ello entendió que su nueva vocación era el servicio a los pobres y necesitados.
Opción definitiva por los pobres
Con sólo 19 años, Juan Pecador se trasladó a la ciudad de Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, y empezó una nueva vida: atendía personalmente a gente necesitada, a los presos de la " Cárcel Real ", y a otros enfermos convalecientes e incurables, que encontraba abandonados. Para ayudarles pedía limosna por la ciudad.
Al mismo tiempo frecuentaba la iglesia de los Padres Franciscanos, donde se recogía para su oración y se aconsejaba con uno de los Padres.
Fundación del Hospital de la Candelaria
Juan Pecador era seguido con admiración por los habitantes de Jerez en su generosa vida de caridad.
En enero de 1574, se generalizó una grave epidemia en Jerez y entonces dirigió un memorial al Cabildo urgiendo la asistencia de tantos enfermos tirados por la calle. Él se multiplicaba ante tanta necesidad, y al fin optó por fundar su propio Hospital, que poco a poco lo fue ampliando: lo dedicó a la Virgen y llamó de Ntra. Sra. de la Candelaria.
Unión a San Juan de Dios
La razón de ser y actuar de Juan Pecador era Dios expresado mediante el servicio a los pobres, y sostenido por su intensa vida de fe y oración.
Tuvo mientras tanto conocimiento de la Institución fundada por Juan de Dios en Granada. La visitó en 1574 y decidió unirse a ella, acogiéndose a sus reglas y aplicando en su hospital la misma forma de vida profesada.
Con su nuevo planteamiento, su testimonio y entrega ejemplar se derivó el que se le fueran uniendo compañeros, que formó según " los Estatutos de Juan de Dios ".
Esto le dio oportunidad para ampliar su acción con otras fundaciones en Medina Sidonia, Arcos de la Frontera, Puerto Santa María, Sanlúcar de Barrameda y Villamartín.
La Reducción de los Hospitales
La asistencia a los enfermos más pobres en Jerez dejaba mucho que desear, mientras se multiplicaban los pequeños centros. Las autoridades ante ello determinaron la reducción de los Hospitales, pretendiendo una mayor eficacia hospitalaria; pero la medida lesionaba los intereses de no pocos, apegados a los centros no tanto por servir a los enfermos, cuanto por ser medio de beneficios personales. Por eso mismo no habían de faltar críticas, resistencias y entorpecimientos.
La medida también afectaba al Hospital de Juan Pecador. Él, como los demás, presentó a las autoridades su "Memorial" sobre cómo se atendía a los enfermos en su hospital.
Ante la decisión, el Arzobispo de Sevilla, Cardenal Rodrigo de Castro, encargó tan delicada misión a Juan Pecador, como la persona más apta y mejor capacitada para ello, por su espíritu, vocación y experiencia en hospitalidad. Juan Grande se enfrentó a la reducción con valor y amor, y ante los no pocos ni pequeños sinsabores, demostró su especial sensibilidad, capacidad, buen temple y no pequeña virtud.
De su Hospital se había presentado el informe de que la asistencia hospitalaria se cumplía en el mismo "con diligencia, cuidado y mucha caridad, haciéndose muy buena obra y servicio a Dios nuestro Señor, porque él y sus hermanos de hábito son hombres virtuosos y profesan esta caridad de curar los pobres enfermos".
Actualidad de Juan Grande
Junto a su intensa vida interior, Juan Pecador se dedicó en cuerpo y alma a la tarea externa de buscar, cuidar y servir a los pobres y enfermos, preocupándose por todo lo que entonces era más grave y urgente: encarcelados, enfermos convalecientes e incurables, mujeres prostituidas, soldados enfermos desechados, niños abandonados, etc. En verdad, practicó todas las obras de misericordia.
En Juan Grande vemos a un hombre del bien hacer desde el ser, poco hablador y eficientemente práctico, servidor misericordioso del "Evangelio de la Vida", buen samaritano, organizador de hospitales y de la asistencia hospitalaria, conciencia crítica ante las injusticias, abusos y carencias. En definitiva, fue un profeta y apóstol de la asistencia sanitaria.
Epidemia de peste y muerte
Contando Juan Grande 54 años y viviendo plenamente dedicado a su comunidad y al hospital, se presentó en Jerez una terrible epidemia de peste. Juan se prodigó por todas partes con todas sus fuerzas y generosidad, pero al fin contagiado, murió el sábado 3 de junio de 1600.
Glorificación
Fue beatificado en 1853 por Pío IX, y canonizado por
Juan Pablo II el 2 de junio de 1996. Proclamado Patrón de la nueva Diócesis de
Jerez de la Frontera en 1986, sus restos son venerados en el " Santuario
Diocesano San Juan Grande ", en Jerez, en el hospital de los Hermanos de
San Juan de Dios de su mismo nombre.
SOURCE : http://es.catholic.net/op/articulos/35488/juan-grande-romn-santo.html#modal
Den hellige Johannes Grande (1546-1600)
Minnedag: 3.
juni
Skytshelgen for bispedømmet Jerez de la Frontera
Den hellige Johannes Grande Román (sp: Juan) ble født
lørdag den 6. mars 1546 i Carmona i Andalucía i Spania. Han var sønn av
Cristóbal Grande og Isabel Román, som var fromme kristne, og han ble døpt i
sognekirken San Pedro av sognepresten, Andrés Muñoz. Han fikk en solid kristen
oppdragelse, og han var korgutt fra han var 7 til han var 12 år gammel. Hans
far døde da han var 11 år gammel, og som 15-åring ble han sendt til Sevilla for
å arbeide hos en slektning som var involvert i linhandelen. Da han hadde lært
yrket, begynte han i bransjen i Carmona.
Men kort etter ga han opp det yrket, ga bort alt han
eide og flyttet til eneboercellen St. Olalla nær Marcena. Der oppholdt han seg
i et år for å oppdage sitt sanne kall. Selv om han åpenbart hadde levd et
ulastelig liv fra barndommen, hadde han en dyp og varig følelse av skyld og
uverdighet. Kanskje hans etternavn Grande (= stor) plaget ham, for han syntes
han var den minste blant mennesker. Derfor ga han seg selv det nye
etternavnet Pecador (lat: Peccator), «Synderen», og til sin død kalte
han seg alltid Juan Grande Pecador - «Johannes den store Synderen».
En dag så han to syke landstrykere ligge i veikanten.
Han bar dem til sin hytte, pleide dem og tigget almisser for dem. Snart så han
andre mennesker i nød, og det ble åpenbart for ham at han var kalt til å tjene
Gud på andre måter. Så han forlot eneboerhytten i 1565 og dro til Jerez de la
Frontera (Xeres), hvor han viet seg til pleie av de syke fangene i fengselet,
som levde under rystende forhold. Til tross for fornærmelser, utakknemlighet og
til og med slag fra noen av dem, pleide han dem, tigget for dem og tok seg av
dem, idet han mente at intet menneske var utenfor rekkevidde av Guds
kjærlighet.
Etter en tid begynte han å arbeide i det nærliggende
sykehuset, hvor han måtte tåle hindringer og fornærmelser fra tjenestemenn som
motsatte seg hans hengivenhet for de syke - en stadig bebreidelse mot
deres egen likegyldighet og ufølsomhet. Men utenforstående var imponert over
hans arbeid i det offentlige sykehuset, og et rikt ektepar tilbød ham hans eget
sykehus og bygde Hospital de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Vår
Frue av Kyndelsmesse) for ham. Det ble snart fylt av syke pasienter, og
Johannes rekrutterte en gruppe unge menn som var ivrig etter å følge hans
eksempel i å pleie dem.
For å sikre kontinuitet i arbeidet overlot han
sykehuset til den hellige Johannes av Guds
Hospitalorden, som han selv sluttet seg til. Ordenen kalles gjerne Barmhjertige
Brødre eller Fate bene Fratelli (FBF), men har det offisielle navnet
«Hospitalbrødre av den hellige Johannes av Gud (Ordo Hospitalarius S.
Ioannis de Deo - OH [OSJdD]. Da Johannes av Gud døde i Sevilla, var
Johannes Pecador en liten gutt på fire år.
Sammen med sine ledsagere grunnla Johannes andre
sentre i Medina Sidonia, Arcos de la Frontera, Puerto de Santa María, San Lucár
de Barrameda og Villamartín. Han utvidet sitt arbeid ut over sykehuset. Han
samlet foreldreløse, ga dem mat og underviste dem. Han samlet inn penger for å
gi medgift til fattige jenter. Han mistet aldri sin interesse for fanger, og da
engelskmennene stormet Cádiz og tre hundre rømte spanske soldater kom til
Jerez, pleide han de sårede og sørget for mat og klær til dem, på en mirakuløs
måte, syntes det dem. Det er også sagt at han forutsa ødeleggelsen av Den
spanske Armada i juli-august 1588.
Han levde et intenst bønneliv, og hvis han etter å ha
vært hensunket i bønn fant seg selv omgitt av uforstående fremmede, ba han dem
om unnskyldning og gikk stille bort med bøyd hode. På oppdrag av erkebiskopen
av Sevilla, kardinal Rodrigo de Castro, gjennomførte han en grunnleggende
reform av helsetjenestene, reduserte antallet hospitaler, reorganiserte dem og
forbedret omsorgen for de fattigste.
I 1600 var det en pestepidemi i Jerez. Rundt 300
mennesker døde hver dag, og Johannes viet seg til pleien av de pestrammede helt
til han fikk sykdommen selv. Han døde den 3. juni 1600 i Jerez de la Frontera i
Spania i en alder av 44 år. Han ble saligkåret den 13. november 1853
(dokumentet (Breve) var datert den 1. oktober 1852) av den salige pave Pius IX (1846-78).
Helligkåringsprosessen ble innledet i 1930, og han ble helligkåret den 2. juni
1996 av pave Johannes Paul II på Petersplassen i Roma. Hans minnedag er
dødsdagen 3. juni. Hans relikvier oppbevares i bispedømmets helligdom for San
Juan Pecador i ordenens sykehus som bærer hans navn i Jerez. Han ble utropt til
skytshelgen for det nye bispedømmet Jerez de la Frontera i 1986.
SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/jgrande
