Saint Alonso de Orozco Mena (19 September): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On September 19, the Church honors St. Alonso de Orozco, the Augustinian friar, Spanish mystic, royal preacher, confessor, musician, and spiritual author who brought the call to conversion into the court of King Philip II. Born in Oropesa, Spain, in 1500, Alonso desired the priesthood from childhood. While studying at the University of Salamanca, he encountered the preaching and example of St. Thomas of Villanova. Inspired to embrace religious life, he entered the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine at age 22. For decades, Fr. Alonso devoted himself to preaching, teaching, hearing confessions, and governing Augustinian communities. His insight into the human soul and evident goodness made him a greatly sought-after confessor. After becoming court preacher, he drew members of the Spanish nobility to church through eloquent sermons and beautiful sacred music. Yet while serving amid royal splendor, Alonso lived in an austere convent cell marked by simplicity, prayer, and mortification. Following a vision in which Our Lady urged him to write for God’s glory and the salvation of souls, Alonso produced numerous spiritual treatises and Marian works. His writings eventually filled seven large volumes and secured his place among the great Spanish mystics of the 16th century. For 30 years he strengthened Christian life among the nobility, courtiers, and servants alike. When he died at age 91, people from every rank followed his coffin in sincere mourning. St. Alonso de Orozco, pray for preachers, confessors, writers, musicians, and those entrusted with influencing public life! Source: Butler’s Lives of the Saints. 00:00 Introduction 00:16 Renewing Spain’s aristocracy 00:31 Childhood and desire for the priesthood 00:40 Studies at Toledo and Salamanca 00:48 Inspired by St. Thomas of Villanova 00:56 Entering the Augustinian Order 01:03 Thirty years of preaching and teaching 01:10 A greatly sought-after confessor 01:18 Prior of four Augustinian houses 01:26 Appointed royal court preacher 01:33 Drawing the nobility through sermons and music 01:41 Following King Philip II to Madrid 01:49 Austerity amid royal splendor 02:07 Our Lady commands him to write 02:14 A Marian book every year 02:21 Seven volumes of spiritual works 02:29 His autobiographical Confessions 02:45 Strengthening the entire royal household 03:00 His death and beatification https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 #SaintAlonsoDeOrozco #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #SpanishMystics #AugustinianOrder #CatholicFaith #SaintsOfSpain #MarianDevotion #CatholicHistory #CatholicChurch 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴