St. John of Avila
Feast 05-10 · Canonized 1970
Patron of
About
John of Avila was born in 1499 in Almodovar del Campo, Spain, and studied law at Salamanca before turning to theology at Alcala. Ordained in 1526, he gave his inheritance to the poor and devoted himself to preaching throughout Andalusia, where his sermons drew enormous crowds and won many converts.
He became a spiritual guide to many of the great figures of the Spanish Golden Age, including St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of God, and St. Francis Borgia. He founded schools and colleges and wrote widely, most notably the treatise Audi, filia, on the spiritual life.
He died in 1569 and was canonized in 1970. In 2012 Pope Benedict XVI declared him a Doctor of the Church. He is invoked as a patron of the sick and of those who suffer illness.
Suggested prayer
O God, who gave St. John of Avila the eloquence to draw enormous crowds in Andalusia and to guide Teresa of Avila and John of God, grant through his intercession that all who suffer illness may find strength, comfort, and healing in Christ. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
