Peter of Alcantara
Spanish Franciscan friar, Roman Catholic saint
Feast: 19 October (1962 Missal, III class) · not on the current Roman calendar
Who they were
Peter was born at Alcántara in Spain in 1499, son of the town's governor, studied at Salamanca and in 1515 joined the Franciscans of the Stricter Observance. Ordained in 1524, he preached with great success, preferring to preach to the poor.
As provincial he drew up strict constitutions in 1540, then, meeting opposition, withdrew to the mountains of Arrábida in Portugal to live as a hermit; others joined him and new communities grew. Returning to Spain, he walked barefoot to Rome and obtained leave to found poor convents under a reformed rule. He supported St Teresa of Ávila in her reform. He died on 18 October 1562.
The miracles
The miracles examined for his causes are not described in the sources we have used.
Why that counted as sanctity
Peter of Alcántara lived and restored the strictest poverty and penance of St Francis, and was a guide to St Teresa in her reform.
Connected on this site
- Teresa of Ávila Saint“He supported St Teresa of Ávila in her reform.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Peter of Alcantara
- Wikidata Q470608 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Peter of Alcántara (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.