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Saint John of Ávila. Portrait by El Greco (1580)
(Credit : Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

John of Ávila (1499–1569) was a Spanish priest, preacher, scholastic author, and religious mystic, who has been declared a Saint and Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church. He is called the "Apostle of Andalusia", for his extensive ministry in that region.

Early life and Vocation

Born on January 6, 1499, in the Castile region of Spain, John was the only son of his wealthy parents. He was sent at the age of 14 to the University of Salamanca to study law. He later moved to Alcala, where he studied philosophy and theology before his ordination as a diocesan priest.

After John’s parents died and left him as their sole heir to a considerable fortune, he distributed his money to the poor. In 1527, he traveled to Seville, hoping to become a missionary in Mexico. The archbishop of that city persuaded him to stay and spread the faith in Andalusia. During nine years of work there, he developed a reputation as an engaging preacher, a perceptive spiritual director, and a wise confessor.

Because John of Avila was not afraid to denounce vice in high places, he was investigated by the Inquisition but was cleared in 1533. He later worked in Cordoba and then in Granada, where he organized the University of Baeza, the first of several colleges run by diocesan priests who dedicated themselves to teaching and giving spiritual direction to young people.

In 1538, he was given the title “Master,” because his teaching was so effective in bringing understanding to Christian belief and duty.

Spiritual Director to future Saints

While in Granada, Joáo Duarte Cidade, a Portuguese soldier, (who later becomes St. John of God) and Francis Borgia (also later canonized) experienced conversions because of his teaching. John of Avila also became friends with St. Ignatius of Loyola and encouraged him in his formation of the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits.

Time and again, the Vatican offered John bishoprics, and each time he refused, feeling called only to priesthood, teaching and spiritual direction. He had Franciscan, Dominican and Jesuit friends, but he maintained his commitment to his diocese, to be “in the world, yet not of the world” (John 17:14-16).

St. John of the Cross, St. Peter of Alcantara and St. Louis of Granada and many others received spiritual direction from him at some point in their journeys. St. John of Avila was also a spiritual director for St. Teresa of Avila. She entrusted him with edits and direction for her celebrated autobiography.

Death and Legacy

John died on May 10, 1569. Several of his books were quickly translated and spread throughout Europe. His view of the priesthood especially influenced spiritual direction in France, and his writings were cherished by both St. Francis de Sales and St. Vincent de Paul.

John of Avila was beatified in 1894, canonized in 1970 by St. Pope Paul VI who believed his intercessions would help the vocations crisis in the Church. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI declared him a “Doctor of the Church” – the first diocesan priest to be given that title.

Officially, St. John of Avila is a patron saint of Spain and Spanish secular clergy, but many see his intercessions as effective for all diocesan priests, seminarians and spiritual directors. His feast day is May 10.

Article by Catholic Time Staff