now been sufficiently exercised in that so
singular a method of penance and humiliation, he advised him to employ
himself for the time to come in something more conducive to his own and
the public good. His exhortation had its desired effect; and he grew
instantly calm and sedate, to the great astonishment of his keepers. He
continued, however, some time longer in the hospital, serving the sick,
but left it entirely on St. Ursula's day, in 1539. This his
extraordinary conduct is an object of our admiration, not of our
imitation: in this saint it was the effect of the fervor of his
conversion, his desire of humiliation, and a holy hatred of himself and
his past criminal life. By it he learned in a short time perfectly to
die to himself and the world; which prepared his soul for the graces
which God afterwards bestowed on him. He then thought of executing his
design of doing something for the relief of the poor; and, after a
pilgrimage to our Lady's in Guadaloupa, to recommend himself and his
undertaking to her intercession, in a place celebrated for devotion to
her, he began by selling wood in the market-place, to feed some poor by
the means of his labor. Soon after he hired a house to harbor poor sick
persons in, whom he served and provided for with an ardor, prudence,
economy, and vigilance, that surprised the whole city. This was the
foundation of the order of charity, in 1540, which, by the benediction
of heaven, has since been spread all over Christendom. John was occupied
all day in serving his patients: in the night he went out to carry in
new objects of charity, rather than to seek out provisions for them; for
people, of their own accord, brought him in all necessaries for his
little hospital. The archbishop of Granada, taking notice of so
excellent an establishment, and admiring the incomparable order observed
in it, both for the spiritual and temporal care of the poor, furnished
considerable sums to increase it, and favored it with his protection.
This excited all persons to vie with each other in contributing to it.
Indeed the charity, patience, and modesty of St. John, and his wonderful
care and foresight, engaged every one to admire and favor the institute.
The bishop of Tuy, president of the royal court of judicature in
Granada, having invited the holy man to dinner, put {545} several
questions to him, to all which he answered in such a manner, as gave the
bishop the highest esteem of his person. It was this