The polarization in the Church today is a mild breeze compared with the
tornado that ripped the Church apart during the lifetime of this saint.
If any saint is a patron of reconciliation, Vincent Ferrer is.
Despite
parental opposition, he entered the Dominican Order in his native Spain
at 19. After brilliant studies, he was ordained a priest by Cardinal
Peter de Luna—who would figure tragically in his life.
Of a very
ardent nature, Vincent practiced the austerities of his Order with
great energy. He was chosen prior of the Dominican house in Valencia
shortly after his ordination.
The Western Schism divided
Christianity first between two, then three, popes. Clement VII lived at
Avignon in France, Urban VI in Rome. Vincent was convinced the election
of Urban was invalid (though Catherine of Siena was just as devoted a
supporter of the Roman pope). In the service of Cardinal de Luna, he
worked to persuade Spaniards to follow Clement. When Clement died,
Cardinal de Luna was elected at Avignon and became Benedict XIII.
Vincent
worked for him as apostolic penitentiary and Master of the Sacred
Palace. But the new pope did not resign as all candidates in the
conclave had sworn to do. He remained stubborn despite being deserted
by the French king and nearly all of the cardinals.
Vincent
became disillusioned and very ill, but finally took up the work of
simply "going through the world preaching Christ," though he felt that
any renewal in the Church depended on healing the schism. An eloquent
and fiery preacher, he spent the last 20 years of his life spreading
the Good News in Spain, France, Switzerland, the Low Countries and
Lombardy, stressing the need of repentance and the fear of coming
judgment. (He became known as the "Angel of the Judgment.")
He
tried, unsuccessfully, in 1408 and 1415, to persuade his former friend
to resign. He finally concluded that Benedict was not the true pope.
Though very ill, he mounted the pulpit before an assembly over which
Benedict himself was presiding and thundered his denunciation of the
man who had ordained him a priest. Benedict fled for his life,
abandoned by those who had formerly supported him. Strangely, Vincent
had no part in the Council of Constance, which ended the schism.
Comment:
The
split in the Church at the time of Vincent Ferrer should have been
fatal—36 long years of having two "heads." We cannot imagine what
condition the Church today would be in if, for that length of time,
half the world had followed a succession of popes in Rome, and half, an
equally "official" number of popes in, say, Rio de Janeiro. It is an
ongoing miracle that the Church has not long since been shipwrecked on
the rocks of pride and ignorance, greed and ambition. Contrary to
Lowell's words, "Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the
throne," we believe that "truth is mighty, and it shall prevail"—but it
sometimes takes a long time.
Quote:“Precious stone of virginity...
Flaming torch of charity...
Mirror of penance...
Trumpet of eternal salvation...
Flower of heavenly wisdom...
Vanquisher of demons.”
(From the litanies of St. Vincent)
Prayer:
O God, you adorned Saint Vincent with innumerable virtues and merits, and
through his intercession granted health to the sick and ailing. Grant,
we humbly pray, that following his example in despising the evils of
this world and looking forward to the joys of heaven, we may rise above
our sinfulness, and, through St. Vincent’s intercession, deserve
to be cured from all afflictions of soul and body. We ask this
through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayers Written by Saint Vincent Ferrer:
To Obtain the Cure of the Sick
“These signs shall follow them that believe in my name: they shall
lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:18)
May Jesus, Son of Mary, Master and salvation of the world, who has brought
you to the Catholic Faith, keep you firm in it, and give you happiness;
and may He, through the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of our blessed
Father, St. Dominic, and of all the saints, deliver you from the sickness
that ails you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
For Proper Affections Toward God
(from Treatise
on the Spiritual Life, ch. 18)
Good Jesus, let me be penetrated with love to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward Thee; let me burn with zeal for Thy honor,
so that I may resent terribly all the outrages committed against Thee,
especially those of which I myself have been guilty or the occasion. Grant
further, O my God, that I may adore and acknowledge Thee humbly as my Creator,
and that, penetrated with gratitude for all Thy benefits, I may never cease
to render Thee thanks. Grant that I may bless Thee in all things, praise
and glorify Thee with a heart full of joy and gladness, and that, obeying
Thee with docility in every respect, I may one day, despite my ingratitude
and unworthiness, be seated at Thy table together with Thy holy angels
and apostles to enjoy ineffable delights. Amen.
Novenas to Saint Vincent Ferrer:
(Novenas are said for 9 consecutive days.)
Novena Prayer #1
O Saint Vincent Ferrer, our guardian, because God, our eternal Father,
has blessed you with an inexhaustible fountain of grace and blessings,
we beg you to hear our prayers and to assist us with your powerful intercession,
which is even more effective now that you are in heaven than it was when
you were on earth. Full of confidence in your mercy and compassion, we
kneel in prayer before you, and commend to your powerful intercession all
our needs, those of our families, our friends, relatives, and benefactors,
and especially . . . (here mention the favors desired). Glorious St. Vincent
Ferrer, let not our hope and confidence in your protection be deceived.
Intercede for us before the throne of God. Watch over our eternal welfare.
If our trials and tribulations in this world multiply, may they serve to
give us spiritual joy and happiness, if God will only grant us the grace
of ever increasing patience to the end that we may save our souls. Amen.
Novena Prayer #2
O almighty and eternal God, you bountifully enriched St. Vincent Ferrer,
your holy servant, with many graces and merits, and through his intercession
have given a return to health to so many sick and infirm. Grant, we beg
you, that by following his example and aided by his prayers, we may obtain
the grace to despise the things of this world and to look to those of heaven,
and thus be cleansed of our sinfulness. Grant that through his powerful
aid we may be freed from all evils of body and soul. Amen.
Novena Prayer #3
St. Vincent Ferrer, pray for us.
St. Vincent Ferrer, help us.
St. Vincent
Ferrer, comfort us.
St. Vincent Ferrer, cure us of our ill health.
(say 3 Our
Fathers, 3 Hail Mary’s, 3 Glory Be’s)
Novena Prayer #4
O glorious apostle and worker of miracles, St. Vincent Ferrer, new Angel
of the Apocalypse and our kind protector, receive our humble prayers and
obtain for us an abundance of divine favors. By that love which inflamed
your heart, obtain for us from the Father of mercies the pardon of all
our sins, confirmation in our faith, and perseverance in good works. By
living as good and fervent Christians may we become more worthy of your
powerful intercession. Extend your protection to our bodies and free us
from our infirmities. Protect our land from the violence of storms and
disasters, and keep misfortune far from us. Thus blessed and protected
by you in soul and body, we shall be ever devoted to you, and one day,
with God’s grace, be with you in heaven, there to praise God forever
and ever. Amen.