St. Thomas Villanova & St. Maurice & Theban Legion (22 September): Give Your Lives Fully to God

About this sermon

What distinguishes genuine Christian charity from a system that merely keeps people dependent? This sermon commemorates St. Thomas of Villanova and St. Maurice with the Companions of the Theban Legion. St. Maurice commanded thousands of Christian Roman soldiers who refused to sacrifice to false gods. Although armed and prepared for battle, they would not answer persecution with pointless bloodshed. The entire legion accepted martyrdom for Christ. St. Thomas of Villanova learned generosity from his parents and became an Augustinian priest, powerful preacher, missionary leader, and Archbishop of Valencia. Finding his archdiocese burdened by corruption, he visited every parish, reformed the clergy, rebuilt the hospital, established colleges and an orphanage, organized catechetical instruction, and provided early Masses for working people. Known as the Father of the Poor, he helped hundreds daily—but his charity went beyond giving food or money. He supplied tools, education, and training so people could support themselves. As he taught, charity should remove need and, when possible, liberate recipients from dependence. St. Thomas lived what he preached. He wore a threadbare habit, slept on straw, gave away his episcopal furnishing allowance, and sustained his work through prayer, penance, and complete trust in God. May God raise up priests, bishops, religious, and laypeople with the courage of St. Maurice and the charity of St. Thomas of Villanova. 00:00 Feast of St. Thomas of Villanova 00:21 St. Maurice and his companions 00:29 Commander of the Theban Legion 00:53 An entire Roman legion converts 01:08 Ordered to sacrifice to false gods 01:23 The legion is decimated 01:46 Threatened with complete destruction 02:01 Why St. Maurice refused to fight 02:25 Thousands accept martyrdom 02:42 Early life of St. Thomas of Villanova 03:03 His parents’ generosity to the poor 03:25 Thomas gives away his clothing 03:49 The lasting influence of good parents 04:15 His education and teaching career 04:30 Joining the Augustinian friars 04:46 An absent-minded but brilliant teacher 05:09 A sermon moves Emperor Charles V 05:26 Refusing the Archbishopric of Granada 05:33 Preaching throughout the empire 05:56 Condemning episcopal corruption 06:21 Augustinian leadership and missionary work 06:38 Accepting the episcopacy through obedience 06:53 The troubled Archdiocese of Valencia 07:17 His remarkable reforms as archbishop 07:32 Hospitals, colleges and an orphanage 07:40 Catechism and Masses for workers 07:49 Finding homes for orphaned children 08:04 The Father of the Poor 08:11 Helping hundreds every day 08:26 Seeking those too ashamed to beg 08:57 Tools and training instead of dependency 09:11 The true purpose of charity 09:36 Criticized for excessive generosity 09:44 “My duty is to assist” 09:58 Understanding charity in its historical context 10:54 When true charity appears harsh 11:19 Helping people leave dependency 11:53 Mercy and the correction of sinners 12:08 St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom 12:24 Weakness versus principled error 12:55 When anathemas and excommunication are necessary 13:21 Mercy in harsh times 13:44 Prayer as the foundation of charity 13:59 His threadbare episcopal habit 14:15 Giving away his furnishing allowance 14:31 Prayer, ecstasy and austerity 14:39 Miracles and conversions 14:54 His death after celebrating Mass 15:12 The example of a true bishop 15:26 Where future saints may be found 15:43 Praying for holy priests and bishops https://sensusfidelium.us/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/september/september-22-st-thomas-of-villanova-bishop-confessor/ Please remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest #SaintThomasOfVillanova #SaintMaurice #ThebanLegion #CatholicSaints #CatholicHomily #FeastDay #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicFaith #ChristianCharity #CatholicSermon #DailyHomily #AugustinianSaints 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴