Vincent Ferrer

Who they were

Vincent, son of a notary of Valencia, entered the Dominicans at seventeen and taught logic, philosophy and theology. He worked with the Aragonese cardinal Pedro de Luna, who became the Avignon antipope Benedict XIII during the Great Western Schism that began in 1378.

He became a tireless itinerant preacher across Europe, calling people to repentance with words so fiery about the Last Judgement that he was called 'the Angel of the Apocalypse', while living in constant fasting and short sleep to give more time to prayer. He died as he had lived, on the road, at Vannes in Brittany on 5 April 1419, already venerated as a saint.

The miracles

The miracles examined for his canonisation are not described in the sources we have used.

Why that counted as sanctity

Vincent gave his life to calling a divided, confused Christendom back to conversion, and urged tender compassion, patience, forgiveness and the gift of one's life for others, after the example of Jesus.

Connected on this site

• André Abellon Saint
  “He became a Dominican after hearing the preaching of Vincent Ferrer and studied art before joining their ranks.” — Wikipedia
• Francisco Martín Fernández de Posadas Saint
  “He became a noted preacher and popular confessor while being hailed as a second Vincent Ferrer and in the beginning was subjected to violent dislike and ridicule from fellow Dominicans before he was allowed to enter the order.” — Wikipedia
• Louis Bertrand Saint
  “Luis Beltrán was born in Valencia on 1 January 1526 and entered the Dominicans there at nineteen; the prior who received him foretold he would be a second St Vincent Ferrer.” — this site's research
• Blessed Margaret of Savoy Blessed
  “Her piety grew after she heard St Vincent Ferrer preach.” — this site's research
• Benedict XIII Servant of God
  “After supporting Antipope Benedict XIII during the Western Schism, Ferrer travelled to preach across Western Europe and the British Isles.” — Wikipedia