Juan de Ribera

Saint Juan de Ribera was born in Seville, Spain, on March 20, 1532, into a noble family; his father served as Viceroy of Naples, and Juan lost his mother while still young. He studied at the University of Salamanca and was ordained a priest in 1557. At only thirty, he was appointed Bishop of Badajoz, where he devoted himself to strengthening Catholic faith through catechesis and resisting the spread of Protestant errors. In 1568 he became Archbishop of Valencia, and later King Philip III named him Viceroy of Valencia, uniting in him both pastoral and civic authority. Zealous for reform in the spirit of the Council of Trent, he founded the College of Saint John—known as the Museum of the Patriarch—to form priests in sound doctrine and holy discipline. His tenure also coincided with the painful conflict surrounding the Moriscos and their eventual expulsion from Spain, a decision he strongly supported. Venerated for his leadership, reforming zeal, and dedication to priestly formation, he is patron of Alfara del Patriarca. His feast day is January 6.