Vincent Ferrer

Saint Vincent Ferrer
Giovanni Bellini: c. 1465, Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice
Confessor
Born	January 23, 1350 Valencia, Kingdom of Valencia
Died	April 5, 1414 (aged 64) Vannes, Kingdom of Brittany
Venerated in	Catholic Church
Canonized	June 29, 1455 by Callixtus III
Major shrine	Vannes Cathedral
Feast	April 5
Patronage	City and Kingdom of Valencia Valencian Community

Interior of the Birth House of Saint Vincent Ferrer in Valencia

Vincent Ferrer O.P. (Valencia, January 23, 1350 – Vannes, April 5, 1419), in Valencian Vicent Ferrer, was a Valencian Dominican, thaumaturge, preacher, logician and philosopher. His preaching journeys earned him the esteem of the people of various regions of Europe. After his canonization in 1455, he became the principal patron saint of the city and Kingdom of Valencia: in his commemoration, stages called "altars" are set up in the streets of Valencia, where children act out scenes from his life and miracles.

According to popular legend, Vincent Ferrer performed several miracles by raising his index finger, which is why he is affectionately known as "Sant Vicent el del ditet" ("Saint Vincent of the little finger"). In iconography he is usually depicted with his index finger raised toward heaven and with a pair of wings on his back. This last attribute is due to his self-designation as legatus a latere Christi (a kind of personal representative of Christ) and to the title of "Angel of the Apocalypse" earned by his sermons, during which he often addressed the theme of the Last Judgment and even announced the imminent coming of the Antichrist (as he did during his preaching in the city of Toledo in 1411).

Following a famous vision he had in the city of Avignon in the year 1398, Vincent Ferrer began making constant preaching journeys through various cities of Europe, especially Italian ones. During these journeys he was accompanied by a great multitude, among whom was a retinue of flagellants who whipped their backs as a purging of their sins. The saint used to travel on the back of a donkey and lodge in the convents of Dominican friars in the cities and towns where he preached. A multitude of hermitages and altars in many corners of Western Europe recall historical or apocryphal anecdotes about the many miracles performed by the saint himself, along his long preaching journey, or by his relics.

Vincent Ferrer's active participation in the Compromise of Caspe, where Ferdinand of Antequera (a member of the Castilian Trastámara dynasty) was elected King of Aragon, proved decisive for the meeting.

Biography

St. Vincent Ferrer by Francesco del Cossa, National Gallery

Vincent Ferrer was born on January 23, 1350 into a well-to-do family of the city of Valencia. His parents were Guillermo Ferrer and Constanza Miquel, who had three daughters and three sons. Guillermo Ferrer was a notary and was well connected with the upper classes, which allowed him to obtain for his son a baptism with illustrious godparents and the "benefice of Saint Anne" in the Parish of Saint Thomas. When he was born, Valencia had just suffered the Black Death.

The young Vincent began his studies in one of the many Latin schools of Valencia. After entering the Convent of the Preachers of Valencia, he took the Dominican habit in February 1367. Between 1368 and 1375 he was sent by his superiors to deepen his knowledge in Lleida, Barcelona and Toulouse. In Lleida, where the General Study of the Crown of Aragon was located, he taught as a professor of Logic.

In the Western Schism

Vincent worked actively to resolve the so-called Western Schism. In 1377 the Popes returned to Rome after almost three quarters of a century in Avignon. But upon the death of Gregory XI, Urban VI was elected, which led to serious disturbances and moments of tension, with accusations regarding the legality of the election. The absence of some electors and the French pressure, which the Spanish cardinal Pedro de Luna, later known as Papa Luna, joined, led a group of electors to declare the election null in August and to elect Clement VII on September 20. Christian Europe was divided between those who obeyed Rome and those who obeyed Avignon.

Peter IV of Aragon, the Ceremonious, ended up supporting Clement VII, and the latter delegated Vincent Ferrer to intervene in the Kingdom of Valencia, where the delegate of Urban VI was already present.

His activity in Valencia in favor of Clement VII was intense, which led the King to receive various letters and denunciations, some in favor and others against. Such was the situation that it led him to voluntarily resign his office as Prior of the Convent of the Preachers, an office he had held for some time. His support for Avignon led him to write a treatise in 1380.

During this period Vincent continued his preaching work throughout the former Kingdom of Valencia, of which we have record, such as a Lent in Segorbe or another in the capital, Valencia. Also noteworthy are his intervention in judgments between religious, and his classes as professor of theology at "La Seu" (cathedral) of Valencia between 1385 and 1390.

In 1394 Pedro de Luna was elected Pope of Avignon as Benedict XIII, and he called Vincent and offered him cardinalatial distinctions and bishoprics, but Vincent did not look favorably on the atmosphere of the Avignon curia and went off to the convent of the preachers of the city. The schism caused him great inner pain, and at that moment he suffered an illness that seemed to be leading him to death. On October 3 he had a vision that changed the course of his life, and from that moment he devoted himself to itinerant preaching, to which he consecrated himself completely, traveling the roads of Western Europe on foot.

Vincent remained a supporter of the Avignon popes. He recalled the biblical plagues and asserted that the ninth plague was darkness: for three days men and women were unable to see one another, and he said that this signified the Schism, and the three days were the three popes there were at that time, John, Gregory and Benedict.

After his intervention at Caspe, and in his frequent meetings with King Ferdinand, Benedict XIII and Emperor Sigismund discussed the union of the Church. On January 6, 1416, Vincent Ferrer, in Perpignan, read a document by which the Crown of Aragon withdrew from obedience to Avignon. The following year, in 1417, Martin V was elected Pope of all Christendom.

In the Compromise of Caspe

Access to the pouet de Sant Vicent, next to his birth house

Doorway of the pouet

Main article: Compromise of Caspe

His participation is undoubtedly a fundamental event for the future of all of Spain, both in his time and afterward.

His participation is documented by his own brother Boniface, who also took part as a compromisario (delegate) representing Valencia.

Vincent arrived at Caspe in April 1412 and was the eighth compromisario in hierarchical order, but he was the first to cast his vote, perhaps because of his prestige and moral weight, and this was surely decisive for the future of the Crown of Aragon and of the future Spain. His vote was in favor of Ferdinand of Antequera, and after him his brother and three other compromisarios from Aragon and Valencia did the same, also voting for Ferdinand; two compromisarios voted for the Count of Urgell, one abstained and another had not formed an opinion.

According to some chronicles, the supporters of the Count of Urgell tried to assassinate Vincent in the lands of Lleida.

Vincent and other religions

Vincent Ferrer is part of the antisemitic history of Spain. According to him, Jews were "animals with tails who menstruate like women". He was a promoter of the pogrom of 1391 in the Jewish quarter of Valencia, where the Plaza San Vicente Ferrer is located today; and in Toledo he brought about the transformation of the Great Synagogue of Toledo into the Church of Santa María la Blanca. As a result, either of his preaching or of the violence of the anti-Jewish riots of 1391, a large number of Jews converted to Christianity, giving rise from then on to a significant community of New Christians. Some authors deny that Vincent Ferrer was in Valencia in 1391, and insist that he never approved of the violence, although he did think that that calamity was a good opportunity to intensify catechesis.

His work was facilitated by his thorough knowledge of Hebrew, the traditions, and the Scriptures.

Vincent had special dealings with converts, entrusting their formation and education in Christianity to selected persons; or, as in the case of the Muslim convert Atmez Hannexa, who took the name Vincent when he was baptized, he made sure that he and his family had a pension for their relief and sustenance, and that he could preach among Muslims and Christians.

The orphanage of Valencia

The Dominican Vincent Ferrer is credited with founding, in the year 1410 (in Valencia, Spain), the first orphanage in the world recorded in European history, which is still standing and in operation.

Last years of his life

He was asked to attend the Council of Constance, but he chose to continue with his work and went on preaching through France, avoiding the areas at war.

He traveled through the French Midi and Auvergne, then moved on to Brittany, where the last months of his life would be spent. Finding himself gravely ill, he decided to set out for Valencia. He encountered a terrible storm upon leaving the port of Vannes, which he interpreted as a sign from God that he should return to Vannes to spend the rest of his days. He died in Vannes on April 5, 1419. His tomb is in the cathedral of that city.

Canonization

In 1431, Pope Eugene IV ordered the matter of his canonization to be studied, but then the new schism of Amadeus of Savoy intervened.

Nicholas V advised the friars to hold the General Chapter of 1453 in Nantes and to prepare the process. And he commissioned three cardinals to investigate the life and miracles of the preacher; among them was Alfonso de Borja, the future Callixtus III, the first Valencian Pope of that family. They held interviews with bishops, abbots, friars and common people in Naples, Avignon, Toulouse and in the Nantes region, questioning 28, 18, 48 and 310 witnesses respectively.

It was by then Callixtus III who received the records of these investigations.

Callixtus III used to "tell the cardinals and the Master of the whole Order, Fr. Marcial, that he had always held his pontificate as certain since Saint Vincent had promised it to him". Fundamental documentary contributions have been made which show us that this is not the invention of the biographers, but the conviction of Callixtus III himself, who affirmed it on numerous occasions, and it was recorded by authors very close to the events.

On June 29, 1455, after a vote in the council of cardinals, Callixtus III announced the canonization of Vincent Ferrer (1435).

• 
  House of Saint Vincent Ferrer, Valencia (city).
• 
  Doorway of the Pouet de San Vicent Ferrer in Valencia.
• 
  Medallion of Vincent Ferrer at the Literary University of Valencia.
• 
  Collection of sermons of Saint Vincent Ferrer.

Message to the Valencians

Saint Vincent Ferrer gave a message to be carried to all Valencians, which can be considered his testament. The message reads as follows:

"My poor homeland! I cannot have the pleasure of my bones resting in its bosom; but tell those citizens that I die dedicating my memories to them, promising them constant assistance, and that my continual prayers there in heaven will be for them, whom I shall never forget."

"In all their tribulations, in all their misfortunes, in all their sorrows, I shall console them, I shall intercede for them. Let them preserve and practice the teachings I gave them, let them always keep unharmed the faith I preached to them, and let them never belie the religiousness of which they have always given proof."

"Although I may not live in this world, I shall always be a son of Valencia. Let them live in peace, for my protection shall never fail them. Tell my dear brothers that I die blessing them and dedicating my last breath to them."

Vincent, miracle-worker and possessor of the Gift of tongues

860 wonders or miracles are recorded in the Process of his Canonization as worked by the Dominican Preacher in life and after his death, which the Judges of the Process verified. Many witnesses declared in the Process that, when Vincent Ferrer spoke in Valencian, they understood him perfectly in their native language, for which reason he was considered to possess the "Gift of tongues".

Saint Vincent Ferrer, "always preaching in his Valencian language", was understood by Castilians, French, Basques, Italians from Piedmont and Lombardy...

See also

• Compromise of Caspe
• Imperial College of Orphan Children of Saint Vincent Ferrer
• Miracles of Saint Vincent

Bibliography

• Dantas, Elena (2006). Fratricidio y contricción: Breve historia del antisemitismo Cristiano (in español). AuthorHouse. ISBN 1420865048.
• Ejido, José Antonio (2006). El problema nacional judío: Judaísmo versus sionismo (in español). Editorial El Viejo Topo. ISBN 849635671X.
• Caudevilla Pastor, Jesús (2007). Yo, Vicente Ferrer: el ángel del Apocalipsis (in español). Ediciones Styria. ISBN 9788496626492.
• Sanchis y Sivera, José (2009). Historia de San Vicente Ferrer (in español). Charleston: BiblioBazaar, LLC. ISBN 1113383496.
• Vincent Ferrier (saint), Sermons, translated from Catalan into French, Éditions de la Merci, 2010 (ISBN 978-2-9531917-5-2)
• Ferrer, Vicent (2010). Quaestio de unitate universalis (in Latina). Tarragona: Publicacions URV. ISBN 9788493759032. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
• Cantera Montenegro, Enrique (2000). "Judíos medievales. Convivencia y persecución". In Eloy Benito Ruano (ed.). Tópicos y realidades de la Edad Media (in español). Vol. 1. Real Academia de la Historia. pp. 179 ff. ISBN 9788489512801.
• Beuchot, Mauricio (1991). La filosofía del lenguaje en la Edad Media (in español). UNAM. pp. 201 ff. ISBN 9789683621863.
• Beuchot, Mauricio (1998). La retórica como pragmática y hermenéutica (in español). Anthropos Editorial. pp. 53 ff. ISBN 9788476585399.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Vincent Ferrer.

• In the Valencian Digital Library, Bivaldi, various digitized works by Saint Vicent Ferrer can be accessed, as well as other documents of interest related to him (in Spanish)
• Page dedicated to Vincent Ferrer at the Associació d'Escriptors en Llengua Catalana. In Catalan, Spanish and English.
• Philosophica: Online philosophical encyclopedia. Entry "Vicente Ferrer, San" (in Spanish)
• Biography and spiritual portrait of Vincent Ferrer at Dominicos.org (in Spanish)
• Celebration of the 6th Centenary in Teulada
• Celebration of the 6th Centenary in the Cathedral of Valencia