March 08

Pope Celestine II (c. 1100–1144), born Guido di Castello, was elected Pope in September 1143. During his brief pontificate of six months, he worked to reconcile factions within the Church and maintain peace among European powers. He granted privileges to religious orders and continued efforts toward clerical reform. Celestine negotiated disputes in Sicily and supported preparations for the Second Crusade. His sudden death in March 1144 cut short his initiatives for ecclesiastical unity and diplomatic mediation.

John of God (1495–1550), born João Cidade, was a Portuguese soldier who underwent a profound spiritual conversion in Granada. He devoted his life to caring for the sick, poor, and those suffering from mental illness. In 1537, he established the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, creating hospitals that offered both medical care and spiritual support. Renowned for his compassion and tireless ministry to lepers and plague victims, he traveled extensively to aid the marginalized. Canonized in 1690, he is honored as the patron saint of hospitals, nurses, and the dying.

Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent American Congregationalist minister and leading social reformer. He gained nationwide fame for his powerful sermons advocating the abolition of slavery. As pastor of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, he attracted crowds with his charismatic preaching style. Beecher also championed women's suffrage and temperance, using his pulpit to address major social issues. His sermons were widely published, making him one of the most read authors of his era. Beecher died on March 8, 1887, leaving a legacy as one of the 19th century’s most influential voices for justice and moral reform.