1486–1555
Saint Thomas of Villanova, 1486–1555
September 22
Saint Thomas was a teacher, a monk, and a bishop in Spain. He wanted to love people like Jesus did. He always tried to live the Great Commandment. Saint Thomas gave his money to people who had nothing. He tried to help them find work, too. He found homes for many orphaned children. He paid to free many slaves. Because of all the good things he did, Saint Thomas was called “Father of the Poor.”
Discuss: When have we, as a family, given to the poor?
Saint Thomas was a teacher, a monk, and a bishop in Spain. He wanted to love people like Jesus did. He always tried to live the Great Commandment. Saint Thomas gave his money to people who had nothing. He tried to help them find work, too. He found homes for many orphaned children. He paid to free many slaves.
Thomas is the patron Saint of many churches named after him. He was a professor at the University of Alcalá in Spain. He sent the first Augustinian missionaries to the New World. Those missionaries helped bring people in what is now Mexico to the Church. Thomas also had a special concern for the poor. He founded colleges for them, and for the children of new priests. Because of all the good things he did, Saint Thomas was called “Father of the Poor.”
Activity
Clothing the Poor
Interpersonal
Share that Saint Thomas of Villanova lived in Spain. He wore shabby mended clothes and was often called absent-minded, but every morning, several hundred poor came to his door and received a meal and money.