Pope John Paul II on the Feast of Pentecost, May 19, 2002, canonized this Spanish follower of Saint Augustine.
Alfonso de Orozco was born October 17, 1500 in Oropesa, Province of Toledo, Spain.
His father sent him to study in Salamanca. There, inspired by the preaching of the Augustinian Thomas of Villanova, Alfonso entered the Order of St. Augustine in 1522.
In his Confessions, Alfonso recounts that during his formation, he was tempted to leave the Augustinians. The freedom of the times was very attractive, while he found difficult the solitude, the practice of obedience and other hardships of religious life. But he persevered, professing permanent vows and eventually being ordained a priest.
He started a journey to Mexico in 1547 as a missionary. But a serious attack of arthritis during the journey made his return to Spain necessary.
Alfonso was a gifted preacher. He preached to kings and simple people alike. For Alfonso, preaching was a necessity inspired by the love of Jesus and done for the love of Jesus.
Alfonso was also a prolific writer. He had a dream in which the Mother of Jesus told him, “Write.” So he began to write. He produced numerous books on Christian spirituality. At age 90, he was still writing.
Go here to read the rest.
