St Thomas of Villanova, Bishop and Confessor

Today, according to the traditional Roman calendar of 1962, the Church keeps the feast of St Thomas of Villanova, Bishop and Confessor. St Thomas was born in Spain at Fuenllana near Villanueva de los Infantes around the end of the 15th century. He became an Augustinian friar and later professor of theology, distinguished for his humility, intellectual talent, and ardent devotion to charity. Elevated to the archbishopric of Valencia in 1544, he became famed as the 'Almsgiver of the Poor' for his extraordinary generosity to those in need and his personal austerity. A zealous pastor, he reformed the clergy in his diocese, encouraged education, and energetically promoted the welfare of the poor and the marginalized. His spirituality was deeply rooted in practical charity and interior detachment, drawing inspiration from the teachings of St Augustine and the evangelical counsels. St Thomas died on September 8, 1555, and his cultus quickly spread, leading to his canonization by Pope Alexander VII in 1658. The traditional calendar commemorates him on September 22 as a bishop and confessor of outstanding charity, setting before the faithful a model of episcopal sanctity and social concern. His feast, of the III class, invites the Church to imitate his love for Christ in the poor and his commitment to authentic reform within the Church. This is the feast presented in the traditional (1962) Roman calendar.