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Thomas of Villanova
Spanish Augustinian saint and archbishop (1488–1555)
Feast: 22 September (1962 Missal, III class) · not on the current Roman calendar
Who they were
Thomas was born at Fuentellana in Spain in 1488 to parents known for their generous alms. At sixteen he went to the University of Alcalá, where he became master of arts and taught logic and philosophy. Declining a chair at Salamanca, he joined the Augustinians there in 1516 and was ordained in 1518.
He taught theology, preached across Spain and became court preacher and councillor to the emperor Charles V. As Archbishop of Valencia he was known above all for his charity to the poor. He died at Valencia on 8 September 1555.
The miracles
The miracles examined for his causes are not described in the sources we have used.
Why that counted as sanctity
Thomas, a scholar and adviser to an emperor, lived simply and gave everything to the poor, as his parents had taught him.
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Thomas of Villanova
- Wikidata Q2166628 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Thomas of Villanova (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.