Saint Thomas of Villanova and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton honored

The Catholic Church commemorates Saint Thomas of Villanova, a 16th-century Spanish Augustinian monk and the Archbishop of Valencia. Born in Castile, Thomas Garcia was an intellectually gifted scholar who taught at the University of Alcala and the University of Salamanca before choosing to join the Order of Saint Augustine to embrace a life of poverty and religious obedience.

Known as the ‘Beggar Bishop,’ Thomas was a renowned preacher and an adviser to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. He was noted for his commitment to austerity and his dedication to providing for the spiritual and material needs of the poor.

In a similar vein of religious devotion, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is recognized for her role in establishing the Catholic school system in the United States and founding the nation’s first congregation of women religious. Both figures are noted for achieving sanctity through the dedicated pursuit of their everyday religious duties.