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Villanova College is an independent Catholic
school for boys from Year Five to Year Twelve conducted by the Order of
St Augustine. The Augustinians are a religious community of priests and
brothers who have been involved in Education for over 600 years, conducting
schools and universities in nearly every part of the world.
Love of learning
and understanding are part of the tradition of the Order. Another key
element of the Augustinian tradition is mutual support offered within
a Christian community. The reason for the school's existence is the education
of members of the Catholic community in the context of their Christian
faith. That faith is the subject of study and learning at all levels
of
the school.
Academic Life
The pursuit of learning holds a central place in the life
of the school. Villanova values intellectual development and seeks to
continue the Augustinian tradition of enthusiasm for learning and love
of truth. It seeks to develop practical living skills in each student
and to promote eager use of the intellect.
Villanova encourages the development
of individual strengths. It seeks to make school learning relevant to
the wider society and to prepare students for their future, whether in
the fields of higher education, employment or leisure.
College Crest and Colours
 Many of these ideas are brought together within the College
Crest. The heart and the open book symbolise learning and the love
of understanding and truth. They also symbolise the need for love in the
search for truth - the concern of the teacher for the student and the
desire of the student to know. Finally the heart upon the book symbolises
the central place of love in the Christian life. The triple Vs for Villanova
and the school motto, "vincit veritas" (truth conquers),
bring together the name of the school's patron, St Thomas of Villanova,
and the liberating role of truth. St Thomas was a university professor
who later became an Augustinian and a great reformer in the Church. He
is remembered especially for his care of the poor and those in need.
 Villanova College is named after the Spanish
Augustinian, Thomas García Martinez (1486-1555), who has become
known as Thomas of Villanova. He was born in 1486 in Fuenllana in
the province of Toledo, Spain, at a time marked by great changes and
fresh challenges when Spain was on the brink of her Golden Age.
The Context
The Golden Age of Spain dawned late in the fifteenth century. It was a time
of growth into prominence and power. Under the leadership of the "Catholic
Kings," Ferdinand and Isabella, the Reconquest of Spain involving the defeat and
expulsion from Spain of the Moors became a reality in 1492. That same year
Christopher Columbus, sailing under the Spanish flag, opened the doors to the
New World. A new age of discovery had begun, and Spain benefited greatly.
Through her new lands and subjects and her military prowess, Spain firmly
established itself as a world power. Charles V became king of Spain in 1516, and
under his rule Spain continued to prosper. The new sources of trade gave her
great riches, and the gold that poured into the country literally made it a
Golden Age. For the next century, Spain would be both blessed and cursed; hers
was one of the richest, most extensive, and most powerful empires in the world.
Wealth and new-found energy combined to produce an outburst of cultural
activities. Writers, dramatists, and artists flourished. El Greco, for example,
captured in his paintings the flamboyant intensity of mysticism. Spain was
riding high, and this comes through in the literature of the time: the romances
based on chivalry that were so popular in the sixteenth century reflected
Spain's feeling of bold, boundless confidence.
The high spirit and materialism of the times pervaded the Church, despite the
attempts of the Catholic kings and Charles V to foster a universal Christian
spirit. Many of the higher positions of the Church were obtained through power
rather than through holiness; the men who occupied these positions were used to
luxury and did little to enhance religion. More respect was given to the king
than to the pope. And the Holy Office, better known as the Inquisition, was in
full swing. Still, despite the ambivalent state of the Church, or perhaps
because of it, a number of holy men and women appeared such as Saint Ignatius of
Loyola, Saint Theresa of Jesus of Avila and Saint John of the Cross.
Early Brilliance
It was into this world and at this time (1486) that Thomas Garcia Matinez was
born. Thomas's family came from the city of Villanueva (Villanova in Latin) de
los Infantes, from which, according to the custom of his time, he later derived
the name Thomas of Villanova. He was only sixteen years of age when he enrolled
at the University of Alcalá. The brilliant Thomas obtained his degree in
theology in an exceptionally short period of time and was immediately invited to
become part of the teaching faculty at this same university. Eventually, his
reputation for intellectual prowess spread across Spain to the halls of the
renowned University of Salamanca whose chancellor offered Thomas a professorship
in 1516. To everyone's surprise, Thomas declined the offer, announcing instead
his intention to become an Augustinian friar.
Ambition put aside
Thomas was in his late twenties when he decided to follow his call to the
religious life and the priesthood. He did not document, as Augustine did, just
how God touched his soul. Perhaps his decision stemmed from his work; lecturing
for over a decade on philosophy and theology had no doubt impressed upon him the
richness and depth of the spiritual world. In any case, despite many material
attractions and career advantages available to him in sixteenth century Spain,
Thomas readily surrendered all that he was and all that he had to God. He took
the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and embraced the religious
community life of the Augustinians on 25 November 1517. The following year, at
the age of thirty-two, he was ordained to the priesthood.
It could be said that Thomas was an intellectual used to operating by reason,
one who was comfortable with the power of his own intelligence. Unlike some
intellectuals, he was also gifted in dealing with people. In particular he
related well to his fellow community members and exercised leadership in his
community. His fellow Augustinians, recognizing both his gifts and his holiness
of life, soon chose him to be local leader or prior, and, later, regional leader
or provincial. His usual work he did well, keeping careful watch over the
spiritual and material affairs of the Augustinians in Spain. But he was also an
innovator. Concerned about the spiritual state of the people in the far reaches
of the Spanish empire, he promoted the organization of a missionary group of
Augustinian friars to minister to the people in the New World.
This farseeing, practical man was also deeply spiritual. He continually
sought to follow the example that Christ had set for the world. He therefore
lived frugally, eating little and giving away the personal fortune he had
inherited from his parents. He made himself available at all times to all
people, and spent hours in meditation despite his many responsibilities.
A King’s Request Refused, then Accepted
Understandably, he was disturbed when the King of Spain and Holy Roman
Emperor, Charles V, asked him to become the bishop of Granada. Because he wanted
to maintain his simple life, devoted to God and free from matters of money and
power, Thomas declined the honour. The king regretfully accepted his refusal.
Several years later, however, the king again offered Thomas the opportunity
to be bishop, this time that of the wealthy archdiocese of Valencia. Again
Thomas refused. But the king pressured Thomas's religious superior to force him
to accept the position. In accordance with his vow of obedience, Thomas
reluctantly accepted. On 1 January 1545, at the age of fifty-nine, he became
archbishop of Valencia. Although he now wore a bishop's ring and carried a
jewelled cross he still remained, at heart, a friar whose way of life centred
around the three vows.
Bishop of a Different Mould
In that era throughout all of Europe, many bishops and other prelates were
accustomed to luxury, a sign of the times. Some were known to engage in duelling
and an astonishing number attended masquerade balls. These misguided men were
more concerned with ‘royal’ prerogatives as ‘princes of the church’ than with
the needs of their people. Not so with Thomas. He sought to give all of his
people especially the young ones a chance to create for themselves the
opportunity for self-advancement. Therefore, he first visited each of his
parishes to see for himself what the needs of his people were. Then he used the
income of his affluent archdiocese to set up social programs on behalf of the
poor and the rejected. He established boarding schools and high schools. For
young girls he provided dowries, enabling them to be married in dignity. For the
homeless he provided a place to sleep, offering them the shelter of his own
home. It is thus for good reason that the common folk came to call him the
Beggar Bishop and Father of the Poor.
In 1545, the year that Thomas was appointed archbishop, he was summoned, as
were all bishops at the time, to attend the ecumenical council scheduled to meet
at Trent in Italy. This was the council which would reform the Church and renew
its sense of the spiritual. Thomas was not able to be present because the needs
of his newly acquired diocese which had been without a shepherd for many years
were urgent. Six years later, he was again asked to be present at the council;
again he was unable to attend, for now he was too ill. In fact, he was so ill
that he had already asked the king to allow him to resign from his
responsibilities as archbishop. The king denied his request. God, however,
revealed to Thomas during prayer that he would not have to worry much longer
about earthly matters, for his life was soon to come to an end.
On 28 August 1555, the feast of Saint Augustine, Thomas celebrated Mass for
the last time. Over the next twelve days he gradually grew weaker. As he was
nearing death, he distributed to the needy what few personal belongings he still
possessed; he even gave away the straw mattress on which he slept, asking only
that he be allowed to borrow it until his death. Peacefully, on 8 September
1555, Thomas died. He left no will, for he had nothing left to bequeath.
His Heritage
Today, centuries later, a score of schools, churches and universities bear
his name. Thomas is still remembered, still honoured, not so much for his acute
intellect, nor for his strong administrative skills, nor even for his elaborate
and inspiring sermons about the mystical life and the love of God. Instead,
Thomas is known primarily for his simple sharing. He once said, "One thing alone
I can call my own is the obligation to distribute to my brethren the possessions
with which God has entrusted me." And Thomas lived this belief as fully as he
could.
As priest and archbishop, Thomas insisted that the material resources of the
Church should be shared with those in the greatest need. His life was
characterized by the love of learning, peacemaking, and as a reformer of the
Church.
Thomas’s intellectual legacy is reflected in his constant demand that all
learning must be inspired by the desire for God. He celebrated learning as an
activity that ought to make a difference in the community and in the world. He
emphasized that justice and love are the guiding rules of virtue and learning.
In Thomas’s writings we find a rich synthesis of the thought of Augustine and
Thomas Aquinas, especially his emphasis on the innate desire for God in all
peoples, the image of God in the human person, the power of grace and a theology
of love.
Thomas found himself in a church world that was fraught with turmoil and
struggles for power. His scathing attacks on his fellow bishops earned him the
title of reformer, but he was motivated by a genuine desire that Church
leadership personify the teachings of the Beatitudes. In words that are very
contemporary, Thomas challenged all within the Church to serve the least
powerful and to discover love and wisdom in the service of others.
It is appropriate then that Thomas is depicted as "father of the poor" in the
statue at the front of Villanova College at Coorparoo. The statue in granite is
by the famous Brisbane artist, Lenard Shillam, and shows Thomas offering alms to
the poor.
The Augustinian Family celebrates his feast on 10 October.
Adapted from an article by John Rotelle O.S.A in Book of Augustinian
Saints, Augustinian Press 2000.
Some web pages:
www.heritage.villanova.edu/thomas.html; www.osa-west.org/thomasofvillanova.html
Further Reading: The Pelican: A Life of Saint Thomas of Villanova,
Siegfried Back, Augustinian Press,Villanova 1987
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