St. John of Avila

Patron Saint of Spanish Secular Clergy

St. John of Avila was a Spanish priest in the 1500s. As a child, John was noted for his piety and spiritual zeal. After his ordination, he sold his property and donated the proceeds to the poor. His zeal was noticed by the Archbishop of Seville who convinced John to forget his missionary plans and focus his passion for the people of Spain. John was then appointed as the first rector of the newly established University of Baeza, where he molded the university into a model seminary. He was friends with many Jesuits, including St. Ignatius of Loyola, and he did much to aid the new order in Spain. John died of ill health in 1569 before he was able to become a Jesuit himself. Today, many of his sermons, letters, Biblical commentaries, and other works survive and he is remembered as one of the Doctors of the Church.