St. Vincent Ferrar is a famous Dominican missionary. He was born at
Valencia, 23 January, 1350; died at Vannes, Brittany, 5 April, 1419. Vincent
was educated at Valencia. In 1367, he entered the Dominican Order, and
was sent to the house of studies at Barcelona. From 1370 to 1390, he taught
philosophy and theology. In 1390, Vincent was obliged to accompany Cardinal
Pedro de Luna to France and at Valladolid he converted a rabbi, later well
known as Bishop Paul of Burgos. But he soon returned home. When de Luna
became Pope, Benedict XIII, in 1394 he appointed Vincent Master of the
Sacred Palace. At about this time he was cited before the Inquisition for
preaching publicly "the Judas had done penance", but Benedict XIII cited
the case before his tribunal and burned the papers. Benedict then called
him to Avignon and appointed him confessor and Apostolic penitentiary.
Notwithstanding the indifference of so many prelates in the papal Court,
Vincent labored zealously among the people. He steadfastly refused the
honours, including the cardinalate, which were offered to him. Not until
November, 1399, did Benedict allow Vincent Ferrar to begin his apostolate.
For twenty years he traversed Western Europe, preaching penance for sin
and preparation for judgment. Provence was the first field of his apostolate;
he was obliged to preach in squares and open places, such were the numbers
that flocked to hear him. In 1401 he evangelized Dauphiny, Savoy, and the
Alpine region, converting many Catharins and Waldensians.
In 1408, Vincent was at Genoa consoling the
plague-stricken, then he returned to Spain. It would be difficult to overestimate
the influence, which he exercised in the Iberian peninsula. Castile, Aragon,
Valencia, Murcia, Granada, Andalusia, and Asturias were visited in turn,
and everywhere miracles marked his progress. From 1408 until 1416, he worked
almost continuously in Spain. At different times in Spanish history active
attempts had been made to convert the Jewish people. Vincent also began
to work among them; multitudes were won over by his preaching. Ranzano,
his first biographer, estimated the number of Jews converted at 25,000.
In the Kingdom of Granada he converted thousands of Moors. For twenty years
he traversed Western Europe preaching penance and awakening the dormant
consciences of sinners by his wondrous eloquence.
He was canonized by Calixtus III
at the Dominican Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Rome, 3 June, 1455.
St. Vincent Ferrar is the patron saint of builders; his feast day is April
5.
See: Giovanni Bellini. Miracles
of St. Vincent Ferrar: He Raises a Dead Infant to Life and Frees
Prisoners. Miracles of St. Vincent
Ferrar: He Raises Dead to Life. Miracles
of St. Vincent Ferrar: He Rescues a Drowned Woman and Raises the Buried
to Life.
Recommended reading:
The
Book of Saints: The Lives of the Saints According to the Liturgical Calendar
by George Angelini, Victor Hoagland (Editor). Regina Press, Malhame &
Company, 1986.
365
Saints: Your Daily Guide to the Wisdom and Wonder of Their Lives
by Woodeene Koenig-Brick (Author). Harper SanFrancisco, 1995.