Saint John of Avila, a Spanish priest, was an engaging preacher, wise confessor and spiritual director to saints like St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis Borgia, St. John of the Cross, St. Ignatius of Loyola, to name a few. His missionary efforts were in Muslim dominated Southern Spain where he wasn’t afraid to denounce evil. Saint John’s writings have become classics and he was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI.
