Thomas was born at Fuenllana, a town in the diocese of Toledo in Spain, in 1488. From his earliest youth his excellent parents instilled into him piety and extraordinary charity to the poor. Of this virtue he gave while still a child many proofs, among the most remarkable of which was his more than once taking off his own garments to clothe the naked. As a youth he was sent to Alcala to study humanities in the great college of Saint Ildephonsus. He was recalled home by the death of his father, upon which he devoted his whole fortune to the support of destitute virgins and then returned to Alcala. Having completed his course of theology, he was promoted for his eminent learning to a chair in the University and taught philosophy and theology with wonderful success. Meanwhile he besought God, with assiduous prayers, to teach him the science of the saints, and a virtuous rule of life and conduct. He was therefore divinely inspired to embrace the institute of the hermits of Saint Augustine.
After his profession Thomas excelled in all virtues which should adorn a religious man: humility, patience and continence. But he was especially remarkable for ardent charity. In the midst of his many and varied labours, his unconquered spirit was ever intent on prayer and meditation of divine things. On account of his reputation for learning and holiness, he was commanded to undertake the duty of preaching and, by the assistance of heavenly grace, he led countless souls from the mire of vice to the way of salvation. In the government of the brethren to which he was next appointed he so united prudence, equity and sweetness, to zeal and severity, that in many places he restored or confirmed the ancient discipline of his Order. When elected to the archbishopric of Granada, he rejected that high dignity with wonderful firmness and humility. But not long after, he was obliged by his superiors to undertake the government of the Church of Valencia, which he ruled for about eleven years as a most holy and vigilant pastor.
Thomas changed nothing of his former manner of life but gave free scope to his insatiable charity, and distributed the rich revenues of his church among the needy, keeping not so much as a bed for himself. For the bed on which he was lying when called to Heaven was lent to him by the person to whom he had shortly before given it in alms. He fell asleep in our Lord on the sixth of the Ides of September at the age of 68. God was pleased to bear witness to his servant’s holiness by miracles both during life and after death. A barn which was almost empty, the grain having been distributed to the poor, was by his intercession suddenly filled, and a dead child was restored to life at his tomb. These and many other miracles having rendered his name illustrious, Pope Alexander VII enrolled him among the saints and commanded his feast to be celebrated on the fourteenth of the Calends of October.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
In 1517 a cruel blow fell upon the great Augustinian family. Luther, one of its members, raised the cry of revolt which was to be echoed for centuries by every passion. But the illustrious Order which had unwittingly nurtured this child of evil, was nonetheless acceptable to God and He deigned, before long, to demonstrate this for the consolation of institutes whose very excellence exposes unworthy subjects to more dangerous falls. It was at the First Vespers of All Saints that Luther broached, at Wittenburg, his famous theses against indulgences and the authority of the Roman Pontiff. Within a month, on November 25 of the same year, Thomas of Villanova pronounced his vows at Salamanca and filled up the place left vacant by the heresiarch. Amid the storms of social disorder and the noise of the world’s disturbances, the glory rendered by one saint to the ever-tranquil Trinity outweighs all the insults and blasphemies of Hell.
* * * * *
Your name, as well as your justice, will remain forever, O Thomas, because you have distributed and given to the poor (Psalm cxi.). All the church of the saints will declare your alms (Ecclesiasticus xxxi. 11). Teach us to show mercy to our brethren so that, by your prayers, we may obtain for ourselves the mercy of God. You have great power with the Queen of Heaven, whose praises you loved to celebrate and whose birthday on Earth was your birthday in Heaven. Give us an ever increasing knowledge of her, and an ever growing love. You are the glory of Spain. Watch over your country, over your Church of Valencia, and over the Order adorned with such saints as Nicholas of Tolentino, John of San Facundo, and yourself. Bless the religious women who have inherited your charity and who, for well-near [four] centuries, have caused your name, and that of your father Saint Augustine, to be held in veneration. May the preachers of the divine word throughout the world profit by the writings you have fortunately left us, monuments of that e1oquence which made you the oracle of princes, the light of the poor and the mouth-piece of the Holy Ghost.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Sion in Valais, at a place called Agaunum, the birthday of the holy martyrs Maurice, Ewuperius, Candidus, Victor, Innocent, and Vitalis, with their companions of the Theban legion who were massacred under Maximian for the name of Christ, and fitted the whole world with the renown of their martyrdom.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
Let us unite with Rome in paying honour to these valiant soldiers, the glorious patrons of Christian armies as well as of numerous churches. “Emperor,” said they, “we are your soldiers, but we are also the servants of God. To Him we took our first oaths. If we break them, how can you trust us to keep our oaths to you?” No command, no discipline can overrule our baptismal engagements. Every soldier is bound, in honour and in conscience, to obey the Lord of hosts rather than all human commanders, who are but His subalterns.At Rome, the martyrdom of the holy virgins and martyrs Digna and Emerita, under Valerian and Gallienus. Their relics are kept in the church of St. Marcellus.
At Arpajon near Paris, St. Jonas, priest and martyr, who went to France with St. Denis, and after being scourged by order of the prefect Julian, ended his martyrdom by the sword.
At Ratisbon in Bavaria, St. Emmeramus, bishop and martyr, who, to deliver others, endured patiently a most cruel death for the sake of Our Lord.
At Antinoopolis in Egypt, the holy martyrs Irais, an Alexandrian virgin, and her companions. Having gone out to draw water at a fountain near by, and seeing a boat loaded with Christian confessors, she immediately left her vessel and joined them. Being conducted to the city with them, after many torments, she was the first to have her head struck off, and after her, priests, deacons, virgins, and all others underwent the same kind of death.
At Meaux, blessed Sanctinus, bishop, a disciple of St. Denis, the Areopagite, who, being consecrated by him bishop of that city, was the first to preach the Gospel there.
In the territory of Coutances, St. Lauto, bishop.
In Poitou, the holy priest Florentius.
In the territory of Bourges, St. Sylvanus, confessor.
At Laon, St. Salaberga, abbess.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
