St. John of Avila

Patron Saint of Spanish Secular Clergy

Saint John De Avila was a Spanish priest in the 1500s and a Doctor of the Church. As a young priest, John was noted for his piety and spiritual zeal. After his ordination, he sold family property and donated the proceeds to the poor. His zeal was noted by the Archbishop of Seville, who convinced John to abandon his missionary plans and instead remain in Spain. He was then appointed as the first rector of the newly established University of Baeza, where he molded the university into a model seminary. He was friends with many Jesuits, including St. Ignatius of Loyola, and did much to aid the Society of Jesus in Spain. He died of ill health in 1569 before he was able to become a Jesuit himself.