St. Thomas of Villanova

St. Thomas of Villanova – September 22nd

Thomas was born in Spain. His father was a miller in the town of Villanova, and from his kind parents, Thomas learned to be very charitable to the poor. He did very well in school and became a teacher of philosophy when he finished his studies. Next he joined the Augustinian Fathers. After he became a priest, he was given many important positions and finally was made Archbishop of the city of Valencia.

His priests tried to make him change his old, mended habit for more dignified robes, but St. Thomas told them his old clothes had nothing to do with his duty of taking care of souls. Every day, in his great charity, he fed several hundred poor people. When he received a large sum of money to buy furniture for his house, he gave it to a hospital, saying: “What does a poor monk like me want with furniture?” No wonder he was called the “father of the poor!”

St. Thomas was very gentle with sinners at a time when most people were not. Once when he tried to make one man change his sinful ways, the man angrily insulted him and furiously stormed out of the room. “It was my fault,” said the humble Archbishop. “I told him a little too roughly.” Never would he permit anyone to criticize someone absent. “He may have had a good intention in doing what he did,” the Saint would say. “I, for one, believe he did.”

Before he died, St. Thomas gave to the poor everything he had. He even directed that his bed was to be sent to the jail for the prisoners to use.

I will try not to be selfish anymore. This Saint once said, “If you want God to hear your prayers, you should help those who are in need.”