St. John of God, March 8
A Portuguese shepherd, soldier and bookseller, John of God (1495-1550) was converted by a sermon in Granada and opened a hospital where each patient had his own bed, rare at the time. His followers became the Brothers Hospitallers. He is the patron of hospitals, nurses and the sick.
On the General Roman Calendar, March 8 is an optional memorial: Saint John of God, religious.
March 8 on the calendar
March 8 is the 67th day of the year (the 68th in a leap year), with 298 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday |
| 2027 | Monday |
| 2028 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | Thursday |
| 2030 | Friday |
Keeping March 8
March 8 falls in winter. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival.
Saints of the week around March 8
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| March 5 | St. John Joseph of the Cross |
| March 6 | St. Colette |
| March 7 | Sts. Perpetua and Felicity |
| March 9 | St. Frances of Rome |
| March 10 | St. John Ogilvie |
| March 11 | St. Eulogius of Córdoba |
The day before, March 7, is the day of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity. The day after, March 9, belongs to St. Frances of Rome. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.