Knights of Saint John of God
Encyclopedia
The Order of Knights of Saint John of God was founded for the custody and defense of the Holy Grave and the Sacred Relics of Saint John of God
, founder of the Brothers Hospitallers
. These relics are venerated
in the Church of Saint John of God in Granada, Spain, built in 1757. They have been hidden twice after the grave was concluded, the first time in 1808 fearing the profanation of the Napoleonic army
, and the second time due to the persecution of catholics by the Socialist party
during the Spanish Civil War
which led to the burning of a large number of churches in Granada and all over Spain.
Among the Order´s objectives are to encourage, advocate and spread any kind of activity (artistic, economic, cultural or architectonic) which could contribute to the conservation and improvement of the Holy Grave of Saint John of God, whose defense is sworn by the Knights.
The current Great Master of the Order is his excellency Don Fray Juan José Hernández Torres (OH). The Order “motto” is “Deus Charitas Est”. Inside the temple the knights wore a white cloak with a red hood on a dark blue suite with golden buttons where the signs of the order are engraved. The Knights are the right to end its sign with the letters YFO as Saint John of God used to sign.
John of God
John of God ) was a Portuguese-born friar and saint, one of Spain's leading religious figures.John of God was born João Cidade in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, into a once-prominent family that was impoverished but had great religious faith...
, founder of the Brothers Hospitallers
Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
The Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God are a Roman Catholic order founded in 1572. They are also known commonly as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian.-History:...
. These relics are venerated
Veneration
Veneration , or veneration of saints, is a special act of honoring a saint: an angel, or a dead person who has been identified by a church committee as singular in the traditions of the religion. It is practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic, and Eastern Catholic Churches...
in the Church of Saint John of God in Granada, Spain, built in 1757. They have been hidden twice after the grave was concluded, the first time in 1808 fearing the profanation of the Napoleonic army
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, and the second time due to the persecution of catholics by the Socialist party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
which led to the burning of a large number of churches in Granada and all over Spain.
Among the Order´s objectives are to encourage, advocate and spread any kind of activity (artistic, economic, cultural or architectonic) which could contribute to the conservation and improvement of the Holy Grave of Saint John of God, whose defense is sworn by the Knights.
The current Great Master of the Order is his excellency Don Fray Juan José Hernández Torres (OH). The Order “motto” is “Deus Charitas Est”. Inside the temple the knights wore a white cloak with a red hood on a dark blue suite with golden buttons where the signs of the order are engraved. The Knights are the right to end its sign with the letters YFO as Saint John of God used to sign.