The Feast of St. Vincent Ferrer

Vincent Ferrer (1350–1419), Dominican friar. The son of an Englishman who had settled inSpain, Vincent was born at Valencia. He became a Dominican in 1367 and quickly distinguished himself both as a philosopher and a preacher, who had notable success in arousing Christians to repentance and converting Jews, including the Rabbi Paul who became bishop of Cartagena. The Avignonese pope of the Great Schism, Pedro de Luna, also called Benedict XIII, invited him toAvignon, where Vincent advised him without effect to achieve a reconciliation with the Roman Pope Urban VI.

Vincent left to devote himself entirely to preaching, which was to be his life's work. He met with extraordinary success in different parts of France, Spain, and Italy. One biographer said that he came also to England and Scotland. Some of his main topics were sin, the Last Judgement, and Eternity. Vincent's brother was prior of the Grande Chartreuse, which monastery received several notable subjects as a result of his preaching. In Spain he preached in the open air as no church was large enough to hold the crowds; again he converted many Jews.

In 1414 the Council of Constance attempted to end the Schism which had proliferated since 1409 with three, instead of two, claimants to the papal throne. Again Vincent tried to persuade Benedict to abdicate, but again he failed. He did, however, prevail upon Ferdinand, king ofAragon, to withdraw his allegiance. As a consequence Benedict's credibility collapsed and the schism was ultimately healed. The last three years of Vincent's life were spent in France, mainly inNormandy and Brittany. Worn out with his labours, he died at Vannes on 5 April. A spontaneous popular cult arose at once. The fact that most of his preaching had been in the territory of the Avignon obedience did not prevent the Roman Pope Callistus III canonizing him in 1455, the formal Bull being promulgated by Pius II in 1458. This authorized his feast on 6 April, but in fact it has always been held on 5 April.


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