April 5: Saint Vincent Ferrer

Today, April 5, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419), a tireless healer and builder of the Church. Born during the time of the great schism, when there was no clear pope, Saint Vincent first worked to heal the divide, and later, after a vision of Christ, traveled throughout the world converting thousands to the faith.
Born in Valencia, Spain to a noble English father and Spanish mother, his birth was heralded with excitement. His mother, prior to her birth had been told by a blind beggar woman that within her grew “an angel” who would restore her sight (which Vincent did years later). During childbirth, Vincent’s mother was overcome with astounding joy, and experienced no pain. Vincent’s father, doubtful of these predictions, had his own prophetic dream in which a Dominican preacher told him that his son would experience great fame.

Vincent grew up a devout boy, eager to enter the religious life despite the many other opportunities that were presented to him. From a young age, his heart and mind were centered in the Lord, and he considered all of his actions, whether they be studies, work, or play, to be heartfelt prayers of gratitude to God. In his book, A Treatise on the Spiritual Life, he would later write: "Do you desire to study to your advantage? Let devotion accompany all your studies, and study less to make yourself learned than to become a saint. Consult God more than your books, and ask him, with humility, to make you understand what you read. Study fatigues and drains the mind and heart. Go from time to time to refresh them at the feet of Jesus Christ under his cross. Some moments of repose in his sacred wounds give fresh vigor and new lights. Interrupt your application by short but fervent and ejaculatory prayers; never begin or end your study but by prayer. Science is a gift of the Father of lights; do not therefore consider it as barely the work of your own mind or industry."

At age eighteen, he entered the Dominican Order, and there studied philosophy and theology. His life became one of prayer and penance, reading the Holy Scriptures, eventually committing them to memory. He wrote several scholarly works during this time, drawing upon his great faith, discipline, and knowledge of the Bible. Eventually, he achieved his doctorate in theology. Saint Vincent delivered lectures and homilies, always preaching gratitude and praise of the Lord. These public addresses were composed at the foot of a crucifix, both to” beg light from Christ crucified and to draw from that object sentiments wherewith to animate his auditors to penance and the love of God.”

The political and spiritual uncertainty of the great schism affected Vincent’s health and he fell seriously ill. During his illness, while he had a dangerous fever, Vincent was visited by Saints Dominic and Francis of Assisi. As they comforted him, Jesus himself appeared, surrounded by a host of angels. Our Lord touched Vincent on the cheek, leaving a mark he would bear the remainder of his life, and told him to rise and preach to the people a warning about the end of time and the last judgment. Vincent awoke, completely cured of his fever, his life having been changed. He refused various promotions, including that of the position of cardinal. Rather, from that time on, he was content with “going through the world preaching Christ.” He was referred to as the “Angel of the Apocalypse,” so convincing were his sermons on penance and preparation for the Last Judgment.

Vincent traveled throughout Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and Ireland, converting thousands. He was invited to speak in Muslim Granada, which he did, converting 8,000 in one day. He would enter synagogues holding a crucifix, preaching to those present, and entire congregations would convert, also converting their synagogues into churches. Given that Saint Vincent only spoke Catalan, it is assumed that he had the gift of tongues, as wherever he went, the local peoples could understand his message. He also worked numerous miracles, including bringing a dead murderer back to life as evidence of the awesome power of the Lord. He healed many through prayer alone.

Above all, Saint Vincent Ferrer was a man filled with humility, which he wrote is the precursor and prerequisite for all virtue: "For whosoever will proudly dispute or contradict, will always stand: without the door. Christ, the master of humility, manifests his truth only to the humble, and hides himself from the proud."

Saint Vincent practiced what he preached regarding humility. He slept on the floor, traveled only by foot, lived in constant fast, and glorified God through the Eucharist daily. Each day he served the poorest of the poor, and the sickest around, especially children. He remained acutely aware of his humanity, humbly writing, “My whole life is nothing but stench: I am all infection both in soul and body; every thing in me exhales a smell of corruption, caused by the abominations of my sins and injustices: and what is worse, I feel this stench increasing dally in me, and renewed always more insupportably." He also said, "Regard yourself as more vile and miserable in the sight of God because of your faults than any sinner whatever, no matter what his sins... and consider closely that any grace or inclination to good or desire of virtue you may have, is not of yourself but of the sole mercy of Christ."

Stricken again with fever at 69 years of age, Saint Vincent died peacefully, and met his Lord in heaven. He is interred at the Cathedral in Vannes. At his canonization, 800 approved miracles were read aloud. Given his tireless work to build the church, Saint Vincent Ferrer is recognized as the patron saint of builders and laborers. He is often pictured in art with the flame of the Holy Spirit resting in his hand.

Saint Vincent wrote prodigiously on the virtues of the Church. Regarding charity, he wrote: “If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask him simply to fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire,” and –"Once humility is acquired, charity will come to life  a burning flame devouring the corruption of vice and filling the heart so full that there is no place for vanity."

At the end of the day, what Saint Vincent Ferrer preached was repentance, acceptance of God’s love, humility, and thankfulness for what we have been given. He said, "What is meritorious is not that a man should be poor, but that, being poor, he should love poverty." At the start of this Easter season, when we are celebrating our rebirth in the Resurrection, Saint Vincent Ferrer inspires us to give thanks for all that we have—and to be thankful and bear with Christian patience those things that we many have difficulty with or not understand-- for by humbly recognizing that all we have comes from the Lord, our humility creates the necessary space for our hearts to blossom with the love and charity of Christ.

Prayer for Proper Affections Toward God (written by Saint Vincent Ferrer)

Good Jesus, let me be penetrated with love to the very marrow of my bones, with fear and respect toward Thee; let me burn with zeal for Thy honor, so that I may resent terribly all the outrages committed against Thee, especially those of which I myself have been guilty or the occasion. Grant further, O my God, that I may adore and acknowledge Thee humbly as my Creator, and that, penetrated with gratitude for all Thy benefits, I may never cease to render Thee thanks. Grant that I may bless Thee in all things, praise and glorify Thee with a heart full of joy and gladness, and that, obeying Thee with docility in every respect, I may one day, despite my ingratitude and unworthiness, be seated at Thy table together with Thy holy angels and apostles to enjoy ineffable delights. Amen.



Year 2: Day 95 of 365

Prayer Intentions: Humility and service to others.
Requested Intentions: Healing of a daughter with congenital heart disease (F); Healing and an end to suffering (J); For the children (M); For a son fighting a rare immune system disease (R); Freedom from imprisonment (J); Employment and end to depression (H); Successful employment (A); Health for a soon to be delivered baby (T); Financial security (L); Healing of tooth pain (A); Health of expectant mother and child (R); Purification of the souls in Purgatory (A); Guidance in studies (J); Healing and security for a displaced family (C); Healing of high blood pressure; Recovery of brother following surgery (A); For a sister in trouble, that she may make better decisions in the light of Christ (M); Health of expectant mother and child (R); Attainment of funds for surgery (J); Freedom from financial difficulties (E); For employment and college acceptance (E); Recovery and healing of a friend (C); For successful outcome to surgery (C); Healing for brother (M); Successful employment (C); For the victims of the Japanese tsunami/earthquake (J); Healing (E); For a son struggling with depression (B); Successful conception (M); Freedom from social anxiety; confidence in the Lord (J); Improved success in employment and studies (D); Freedom from illness (T); For a wife’s employment (E); Healing of a husband’s knee (M); Freedom from sickness (R); Healing (C); Restoration of marriage (F); Freedom from medical difficulties, employment, successful relationship (D); Healing of a father following stroke (S).