19 February: Blessed Álvaro of Córdoba, Dominican

Reformer of Consecrated Life

Álvaro was born in Zamora, Spain, around 1360. He entered the Dominican Order in 1368 and soon distinguished himself for his intelligence and holiness of life. He was a professor of theology at the University of Salamanca for many years and was highly esteemed for his scholarship and teaching. During that period, he also served as confessor to King Juan II of Castile and to the queen mother, thus playing an important role in both the religious and political life of Castile.

Between 1418 and 1420, he traveled to Italy and the Holy Land to initiate the reform proposed by Blessed Raymond of Capua. Upon returning to Spain, he promoted the foundation of the convent of Scala Coeli (Escalaceli), near Córdoba, which became the center of Dominican reform in the country. Álvaro was appointed prior major and transformed the convent into a renowned center of spirituality and study.

Within the convent, he had structures built that recalled the holy places of Jerusalem, offering the friars the opportunity to meditate more deeply on the Passion of the Lord. For this reason, he is considered among the principal promoters in the West of devotion to the Way of the Cross. From Scala Coeli, his activity focused on apostolic work both within and outside the Order, exercising great spiritual influence.

He died on February 19, around the year 1430. His remains are venerated in the convent of Scala Coeli. Pope Benedict XIV approved the devotion to Blessed Álvaro on September 22, 1741.