St John of Avila

Spiritual Director of St John of God

 


John ofAvila, known as the Apostle of Andalusia, was born in 1499 at Almodóvar delCampo (Ciudad Real) and died on May 10, 1569 at Montilla (Cordoba). He wasbeatified by Leon XIII and on 31 May 1970 he was canonized by Pope Paul VI. PopeBenedict XVI named him a Doctor of the Church on 7 October 2012. There arethree extant letters he wrote to John of God, to lead him along the path ofperfection and of works of charity. Castro, John of God’s first biographer,described John of Avila as, “an excellent man, a consummate theologian, whowas so resplendent in holiness, prudence and in the learning for all the peopleof his age, that thanks to his good example and his teaching, Our Lord acquiredso many souls throughout Spain from all walks of life. And since his sermonswere so famous he naturally attracted a great following. And so it was on thatparticulat day. In the congregation there was also John of God who had gone upto hear him preach.” (Ch. VII).



 

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