Bible Dictionaries
John of Avila, Blessed

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

Search for…

Enter query below:

or

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Prev Entry
John of Austria, Don

Next Entry
John of Beverley, Saint

Resource Toolbox

Print Article

Additional Links

Dictionaries
1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• John of Avila, Blessed
• Avila, John of, Blessed

Confessor, apostolic preacher of Andalusia, born Almodovar del Campo, Spain, 1500; died Montilla, 1569. He studied law at Salamanca, but through motives of piety gave it up to study theology at Alcala. Impressed with John's extraordinary sanctity the Archbishop of Seville induced him to become apostolic preacher. During John's apostolate of forty years he attracted by his preaching and by his saintly life notable disciples, as Saint Theresa, Saint John of God, and Saint Francis Borgia, and spread the power of the Jesuits throughout Spain. His best known works are "Audi Fili," a tract on Christian perfection, and his "Spiritual Letters." Beatified 1894, canonized 1970. Feast, May 10,. See also, patron saints index.