Madrid, Spain, Jan 15, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Representatives of the Spanish Bishops Conference have announced that the cause to have St. John of Avila declared “Doctor of the Church” will soon receive official approval.
The announcement took place during a meeting in Madrid between bishops from Spain and Portugal. The Bishops Conference of Portugal, where St. John of Avila is also highly revered, has also asked Pope John Paul II to make a “Doctor of the Church” the saint who is patron of the Spanish diocesan clergy.
Portuguese bishops announced they would soon be sponsoring initiatives making known the life, work, and message of this great Spanish saint.
During the two-day meeting, the newly-published complete works of John of Avila, consisting of four volumes, were presented to the Spanish Bishops Conference by a distinguished Catholic publisher.