Saint of the Day: St. Vincent Ferrer

Dominican Priest (1350-1419)

His life

+ Vincent was born in Valencia, Spain. He entered the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) in 1374.

+ After completing his studies, he was ordained and devoted himself to the ministry of preaching, before going on to earn a doctorate in theology.

+ Vincent’s entire life was oriented toward evangelization and reform of the Church.

+ Refusing all ecclesiastical honors, he traveled throughout Spain and also preached in France, Germany, Italy, Flanders, Scotland, England, and Ireland.

+ After more than thirty years of tireless ministry, he died on April 5, 1419.

+ Canonized in 1455, he is honored as the patron saint of builders and construction workers.

+ Saint Vincent Ferrer is often depicted in religious art as being accompanied by an angel and sometimes as having the wings of an angel himself, symbolizing both his work as a divine messenger (a reference to his ministry of preaching) and his extensive travels.

For prayer and reflection

“The Lord led his people in hope,
while the sea engulfed their foes, alleluia.”—Entrance Antiphon for Friday in the Octave of Easter

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God,
who gave us the Paschal Mystery
in the covenant you established
for reconciling the human race,
so dispose our minds, we pray,
that what we celebrate by professing the faith
we may express in deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Collect for Friday in the Octave of Easter)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.