September 22 + Saint Thomas of Villanova

Thomas was a 16th century Spanish Augustinian monk and archbishop who lived a life of austerity in order to provide for the spiritual and material needs of his people.

Born in 1488 in the town of Villanova de los Infantes in Spain, Thomas Garcia was raised to take after the faith and charitable works of his parents Alphonsus and Lucia.

Generous and devout from an early age, their son was also intellectually gifted, beginning his studies at the University of Alcala at age 16. Within ten years he had become a professor of philosophy, where he taught for two years before being offered a more prestigious position at the University of Salamanca.

Thomas, however, chose not to continue his academic career. After his father’s death, he had determined to leave much of his inheritance to the poor and sick. At age 28, after much deliberation, Thomas embraced a life of chastity, poverty, and religious obedience with his entry into the monastic Order of St. Augustine.

Thomas made his first vows as an Augustinian in 1517 and was ordained a priest in 1518. He taught theology within his order and became renowned for his eloquent and effective preaching in the churches of Salamanca. This led to his appointment as a court preacher and adviser to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and eventually his appointment as the Archbishop of Valencia.

He wore the same habit that he had received in the novitiate, mending it himself. The canons and domestics were ashamed of him, but they could not convince him to change. When he was given a donation to decorate his residence, he gave the money to a hospital in need of repair. He visited local prisons and ordered changes to be made in response to their inhumane conditions.

While continuing his life of monastic asceticism, the archbishop worked to improve the spiritual lives and living conditions of the faithful. He gave special attention to the needs of the poor, feeding and sheltering them in his own residence. During the same period he worked to promote education, restore religious orthodoxy, and reform the lifestyles of clergy and laypersons.

After 11 years leading the Archdiocese of Valencia, Thomas succumbed to a heart condition. Mass was being celebrated in his home when after receiving Communion he breathed his last, reciting the words: “Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.” He is said to have died on the floor rather than in his bed, which he insisted on offering to a poor man who had come to his house.