Saint John of Avila
Saint John of Avila (born January 6, 1499 AD in Almodóvar del Campo, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain; died May 10, 1569 AD in Montilla, Córdoba, Spain) was a Spanish priest, mystic, preacher, and writer who became one of the most influential figures of the Spanish Counter-Reformation. He was a friend and spiritual director of Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint Francis Borja, and his preaching converted Saint John of God. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. His feast day is May 10.
Stored in Cargo: Saint John of Avila
| Saint John of Avila | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | May 10 |
| Profession | Diocesan priest; preacher; mystic; spiritual director; theologian; Doctor of the Church |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; secular clergy; Spanish Counter-Reformation; Doctor of the Church (2012); friend of Teresa of Ávila; converter of John of God; spiritual director of Francis Borja |
| Patronage | Andalusia; Spain; Spanish clergy; secular priests; those working for Church reform; spiritual directors; preachers |
| Attributes | Priest's vestments; book (his ''Audi Filia'' and letters); pulpit (his preaching); crucifix (his mysticism centered on the Passion) |
| Birthplace | Almodóvar del Campo, Ciudad Real Province, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain |
| Death Place | Montilla, Córdoba Province, Andalusia, Spain |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died at Montilla, May 10, 1569, after years of illness |
| Primary Shrine | Church of San Francisco el Nuevo, Montilla, Córdoba Province, Spain — his relics; center of his veneration; also the Cathedral of Córdoba |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Calendar, May 10) |
| Historic Class | Feast (May 10; added after canonization 1970); Doctor of the Church (declared 2012) |
Biography
John of Avila was born on January 6, 1499 in Almodóvar del Campo in La Mancha. After studying philosophy at Salamanca and theology at Alcalá, he was ordained a priest in 1525. He had planned to go as a missionary to the Americas, but was redirected to Andalusia by the Archbishop of Seville, who recognized his preaching gifts.
He spent the rest of his life preaching throughout southern Spain — Seville, Granada, Córdoba, Jaén — and became the most celebrated and beloved preacher in Andalusia. His preaching style was deeply personal, focused on the interior conversion of the heart rather than external religious performance; this brought him into brief conflict with the Inquisition (he was investigated twice and acquitted twice), but ultimately made him one of the architects of the Spanish Counter-Reformation.
His greatest influence was through his spiritual direction. He recognized and encouraged Saint Teresa of Ávila, approved her Life, and corresponded with her extensively. His preaching converted Saint John of God — a single sermon in Granada c. 1539 shattered John of God with compunction and launched the Hospitaller movement. He guided Saint Francis Borja after Borja's conversion.
His masterwork is the Audi, Filia (Listen, Daughter) — a spiritual treatise on the interior life addressed to a spiritual daughter but of universal application. He wrote hundreds of letters of spiritual direction that are among the greatest documents of Spanish mysticism.
He died at Montilla on May 10, 1569. Pope Paul VI canonized him in 1970. Pope Benedict XVI declared him a Doctor of the Church on October 7, 2012.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Almodóvar del Campo, Ciudad Real Province, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Death location: Montilla, Córdoba Province, Andalusia, Spain
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to John of Avila have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| May 8 Saint John of Avila | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| May 9 Saint John of Avila | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Church of San Francisco el Nuevo, Montilla, Córdoba Province, Spain — his relics; center of his cult.
Feast day
May 10
Veneration
Saint John of Avila is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church on May 10 as an Optional Memorial. He is a Doctor of the Church (declared 2012).
Prayers
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