Ferrer entered the Dominican Order at the age of eighteen and studied philosophy and theology. He eventually became a Master of Sacred Theology and was commissioned to deliver lectures on philosophy. He was then sent to Barcelona and eventually to the University of Lleida, where he earned his doctorate in theology.

Vincent later claimed that the Great Schism had such a depressing effect on his mind that it caused to be seriously ill at the age of forty. He claimed that God healed him and instructed him to go out and convert many. For twenty-one years he was said to have traveled to Aragon, Castile, Switzerland, France, Italy, England, Ireland, and Scotland, preaching the Gospel and converting many. Many biographers believe that he was endowed with the gift of tongues, as he could speak only Limousin. Vincent is also said to be responsible for converting many Jews to Catholicism. One of his converts, a former rabbi by the name of Solomon ha-Levi, went on to become Bishop of Cartagena and later Archbishop of Burgos.

Vincent intervened during a political crisis in his homeland, which resulted in the Compromise of Caspe, by which the Crown of Aragon was given to a Castilian prince, Ferdinand of Antequera.

Vincent was very loyal to the Avignonese Pope Benedict XIII, better known as "Papa Luna" in Castile and Aragon. He would remain steadfast in his loyalty to him and believed that Benedict XIII was the true Pope.

One of Vincent's more controversial achievements is to have preached to the mobs whose riots led to the appropriation of a synagogue in Spain in 1391 and its transformation into a church, Santa María la Blanca.

Saint Vincent died on 5 April 1419 at Vannes in Brittany and was buried in Vannes Cathedral. He was canonised by Pope Calixtus III on 3 June 1455. His feast day is celebrated on April 5. The Fraternity of Saint Vincent Ferrer, a Pontifical religious institute, is named after him.

External links

• Magnificat, Saint-Jovite, Québec, Canada biography
• Catholic-forum.com saints
• Catholic.org online saints
• Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Vincent Ferrer
• S.Vincenzo Ferreri Italy

References