Educator,
philanthropist, Bishop and Confessor.
St. Thomas of Villanova
SAINT THOMAS is often called "Father of the Poor." From his parents he received a rich inheritance-not a large estate or a trust fund, but rather the practice of charity.
Thomas was born at Fuenllana, Spain, in 1488. The surname commonly given him in English is the Italian form of Villanueva, where he was raised. His parents were not rich, his father was a miller; but by living frugally they were able to contribute liberally to the poor. Rather than sell the grain that exceeded their own needs, they made it into bread to give to the poor. His mother taught him well, and while still a young lad he would give away his own lunch or his jacket or shoes.
At the age of fifteen, Thomas was sent to the University of Alcala, where he was particularly noted for his brilliance as a student and for his Christian perfection. His whole time was spent in study, prayer, and charitable actions. While Thomas was at the university, his father died, and Thomas resigned his inheritance except for what money would be necessary to complete his education. The young man received a master's degree in theology, and at the age of twenty-six was made professor of philosophy.
In 1516 Thomas joined the Augustinian friars. in 1520 he was ordained, and took up his priestly duties with love and dignity. He was assigned to preach, and he also taught theology at his convent. Thomas became prior of Salamanca, then of Burgos and Valladolid, and was afterwards provincial of Andalusia and of Castile. He governed his religious brothers through the example of his holy life rather than by authority. In 1533 he sent the first band of Augustinians to America as missionaries to Mexico.
Although Charles V was an intimate friend of the saint, Thomas declined when the emperor offered to name him archbishop of Granada. In 1544 Charles nominated him to be archbishop of Valencia, and he again declined. Prince Philip, however, asked Thomas' provincial to command him to conform to the emperor's will.
Thomas was consecrated and took possession of his cathedral on January 1, 1545. Because he was poor, he was given four thousand crowns to furnish his house. Thomas immediately sent the money to a hospital, explaining that the money would serve God better as a gift to the poor and sick rather than as furniture for a poor friar. The archbishop kept the humility of a friar; his canons were often embarrassed by his threadbare clothes. He even mended his own garments because the small sum he saved would feed a poor man. Eighteen thousand ducats a year were allowed the archbishop, but Thomas kept only four thousand for household and office expenses, giving the remainder to the needy. Every day several hundred poor people came to his door to receive food and money. Orphans were taken under his care, and every poor girl was given a dowry. Although many people who received his kindness abused it, he continued to aid them.
The charity of the archbishop of Valencia to the materially poor was equaled by his charity toward the spiritually poor, the sinners. Rather than use coercive methods, such as excommunication, he preferred to persuade sinners to repent. Thomas tried to supplant the brutal Spanish Inquisition with Christian education. He persuaded the emperor to provide funds for priests to work with newly-converted Moors, and he himself founded a college for them. He also founded colleges for poor scholars at his university, Alcala', and at the University of Valencia.
Taken ill in August of 1555, Thomas, after making his spiritual preparation, began to prepare in other ways for death. Having commanded all the money he possessed to be distributed among the poor of the city, he ordered all his goods, save for his bed, to be given to the rector of the college. The bed on which he lay was to be given to the jail for the use of prisoners after his death. On September 8, 1555, after speaking the words, "Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit," Saint Thomas of Villanova died-materially poorer than the very poorest he had helped, but rich in virtue and the love of God.
source: Welcome to the Catholic Church CD-ROM
