23 February 2018

Lentorama 2018: Second String Saints

Day 9 - Thomas of Villanova

A Spanish Augustinian monk, Thomas was renowned for his preaching and for his care for the poor. He was made a counselor and court preacher by Charles V, while moving up in the hierarchy of his order. He was offered the position of archbishop of Granada, which he refused, and then of Valencia, which also refused... until his superior ordered him to take the post.

While archbishop Thomas used the office to help the people of Valencia while making up for a period where pastoral governance was almost non-existent. His used the money given to him to redecorate his apartments to help repair a hospital. Thomas also set up social welfare institutions while continuing to look for the underlying causes of recurring problems.

I mention Thomas today due to the NCAA men's division I basketball tournament, where Villanova University was a one seed. Hopefully their namesake saint can work a small miracle or two for them.

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