Vincent Ferrer (saint)

Vicente Ferrer O.P. (Valencia, January 23, 1350 – Vannes, April 5, 1419), in Valencian Vicent Ferrer, was a Spanish Dominican, miracle worker, preacher, logician and philosopher. As a writer he is part of the Valencian Golden Age. His preaching trips earned him the appreciation of people in different regions of Europe. After his canonization, in 1455, he became the main patron saint of the city and kingdom of Valencia: in commemoration of him, stages called 'altars' were erected in the streets of Valencia.; where children represent scenes from their lives and miracles.

According to popular legend, Vicente Ferrer achieved several miracles by raising his index finger, which is why he is affectionately known as "Sant Vicent el del ditet&# 34;. In iconography he is usually represented with his index finger raised towards the sky and with a pair of wings behind him. 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'. which earned him sermons, during which he often touched on the theme of the Last Judgment and even announced the imminent arrival of the Antichrist (just as he did during his preaching in the city of Toledo in 1411).

As a result of a famous vision he had in the city of Avignon in the year 1398, Vicente Ferrer began to make constant preaching trips to various cities in Europe, especially Italian cities. During these trips he was accompanied by a large crowd, including a retinue of flagellants who whipped their backs as a purge for their sins. The saint used to travel on the back of a donkey and stay 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 multitude of miracles performed by the saint himself, on his long path of preaching, or by his relics.

The active participation of Vicente Ferrer in the Compromise of Caspe, where Fernando de Antequera, (a member of the Castilian Trastámara dynasty), was chosen as king of Aragon, was decisive for the meeting.

Biography

Vicente Ferrer was born on January 23, 1350 into a wealthy family in the city of Valencia. His parents were Guillermo Ferrer, born in Palamós, and Constanza Miquel, from Valencia or Gerona, 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 a baptism for his son with illustrious godparents and the & # 34; benefit of Santa Ana & # 34; in the Parish of Saint Thomas. When he was born, Valencia had just suffered the Black Death.

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

In the Western Schism

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

Peter IV of Aragon, the Ceremonious, ended up supporting Clement VII and he delegated Vicente Ferrer to intervene in the kingdom of Valencia, where Urban VI's delegate was already located.

His activity in Valencia in favor of Clement VII was intense, which led to the king receiving different letters and complaints, some in favor and others against. Such was the situation that led him to voluntarily resign from his position as Prior of the Convent of the Preachers, a position that he had held for some time. His support of Avignon led him to write a treatise in 1380.

At this time Vicente continued his preaching work throughout the ancient kingdom of Valencia, of which we have evidence, such as one Lent in Segorbe or another in Valencia capital. It is also worth highlighting his intervention in sentences between religious people, or his classes as a theology professor in & # 34; La Seu & # 34; (cathedral) of Valencia between 1385 and 1390.

In 1394, Pedro de Luna was elected pope of Avignon as Benedict from the city. The schism caused him great inner pain, and at that moment he suffered from an illness that seemed to lead to his death. On October 3 he has a vision that changes the course of his life and from that moment on he dedicates himself to itinerant preaching, to which he dedicates himself completely, traveling the roads of Western Europe on foot.

Vincent remained a supporter of the Avignon popes. He remembered the biblical plagues and affirmed that the ninth plague was darkness: for three days men and women were without seeing each other and he said that this meant the Schism and the three days were the three popes that were at that time, John, Gregory and Benedict.

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

In the Caspe Commitment

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

His participation is documented by his own brother Bonifacio who also participated as a delegate representing Valencia.

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

According to some chronicles, the supporters of the Count of Urgel tried to assassinate Vicente in the land of Lérida.

Vincent and other religions

Vicente Ferrer is part of the anti-Semitic history of Spain. According to what he said, Jews were «animals with tails and who menstruate like women». He was the promoter of the pogrom of 1391 in the Jewish neighborhood of Valencia, where San Vicente Ferrer Square is currently located; and in Toledo he managed to transform the Main 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 revolt of 1391, a large number of Jews converted to Christianity., originating from then on an important community of new Christians. There are authors who deny that Vicente Ferrer was in Valencia in 1391, and insist that he never approved of violence, although he did think that that loss was a good opportunity to intensify catechesis .

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

Vicente had a special treatment with the converts, entrusting their training and education in Christianity to selected people, or like the Muslim convert Atmez Hannexa, who took the name of Vicente when he was baptized, whom he took care of so that he and his family had a pension for their relief and sustenance, and he could preach among Muslims and Christians.^{[citation needed]}

The Valencia Orphanage

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

Last years of his life

He was asked to attend the Council of Constance, but he chose to continue his work and continued preaching throughout France, avoiding war zones.

He toured the French Midi, the Auvergne, then passing to Brittany, where he spent the last months of his life. Finding himself seriously ill, he decided to leave for Valencia. He suffered a terrible storm when leaving the port of Vannes, which he interpreted as a sign from God for him to 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 now the new schism of Amadeus of Savoy intervened.

Nicholas V advised the friars to hold the General Chapter of 1453 in Nantes and 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 Calixto III, the first Valencian Pope of said family. They held interviews with bishops, abbots, friars and ordinary people in Naples, Avignon, Toulouse and in the Nantes region, questioning 28, 18, 48 and 310 witnesses respectively.

It was already Calixto III, who received the minutes of these investigations.

Callyxtus III used to say to the cardinals and the Master of the entire Order, Br. Martial who had always taken his pontificate as true since Saint Vincent promised it to him. Fundamental documentary contributions have been made, which show us that this is not the result of the biographers, but rather the conviction of Calixtus III himself, who stated it on numerous occasions and collected authors very close to the events.

On June 29, 1455, after voting for it in the council of cardinals, Calixto III announced the canonization of Vicente Ferrer (1435).

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  Casa de San Vicente Ferrer, Valencia (city).

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  Portal del Pouet de San Vicent Ferrer in Valencia.

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  Vicente Ferrer Medal at the University of Valencia.

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  Collection of sermons of Saint Vincent Ferrer.

Message to the Valencians

Saint Vincent Ferrer gave a message to be taken to all Valencians, which can be considered his testament. The message says like this:

"My poor country! I cannot have the pleasure of having my bones rest in his lap; But tell those citizens that I die dedicating my memories to them, promising them constant assistance. and that my continued prayers there in heaven will be for them, whom I will never forget."

"In all their tribulations, in all their misfortunes, in all their sorrows, I will console them, I will intercede for them. May they preserve and practice the teachings that I gave them, may they always keep the faith that I preached to them intact, and may they never deny the religiosity of which they have always given proof.

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

Vicente miraculous and with the Gift of languages

860 prodigies or miracles are recorded in the process of his canonization as performed by the Dominican Preacher in life and after death, which were verified by the Judges of the process. Many witnesses declared in the Trial that, speaking Vicente Ferrer in Valencian, they understood him perfectly in his native language, which is why it was considered that he possessed the "Gift of languages."

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