St. Vincent Ferrer
Patron of Builders
St. Vincent Ferrer is the patron saint of builders because of his fame for "building up" and strengthening the Church: through his preaching, missionary work, in his teachings, as confessor and adviser. At Valencia in Spain, this illustrious son of St. Dominic came into the world on January 23, 1357. In the year 1374, he entered the Order of St. Dominic in a monastery near his native city. Soon after his profession he was commissioned to deliver lectures on philosophy. On being sent to Barcelona, he continued his scholastic duties and at the same time devoted himself to preaching. At Lerida, the famous university city of Catalonia, he received his doctorate. After this he labored six years in Valencia, during which time he perfected himself in the Christian life. In 1390, he was obliged to accompany Cardinal Pedro de Luna to France, but he soon returned home. When, in 1394, de Luna himself had become Pope at Avignon he summoned St. Vincent and made him Master of the sacred palace. In this capacity St. Vincent made unsuccessful efforts to put an end to the great schism. He refused all ecclesiastical dignities, even the cardinal's hat, and only craved to be appointed apostolical missionary. Now began those labors that made him the famous missionary of the fourteenth century. He evangelized nearly every province of Spain, and preached in France, Italy, Germany, Flanders, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Numerous conversions followed his preaching, which God Himself assisted by the gift of miracles. Though the Church was then divided by the great schism, the saint was honorably received in the districts subject to the two claimants to the Papacy. He was even invited to Mohammedan Granada, where he preached the gospel with much success. He lived to behold the end of the great schism and the election of Pope Martin V. Finally, crowned with labors, he died April 5, 1419. His feast day is April 5.
Previous Saint
< St. Vincentia Maria Lopez Y Vicuna
Next Saint
St. Vincent of Digne >
Rate This Saint
1 - 20 of 26 Comments
Leave a Comment
Previous Saint
< St. Vincentia Maria Lopez Y Vicuna
Next Saint
St. Vincent of Digne >
Find Saints
Catholic Online offers the largest searchable database of Catholic Saints on the internet.
| Browse Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Patron Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Videos
St. Francis of Assisi 80,764 views View Video
Padre Pio 49,007 views View Video
Black Saints Vol I 31,793 views View Video
Black Saints Vol II 28,047 views View Video
Most Popular
No-one Can Change the Truth About Fatherhood. Love Your Father. Be a Good Father Read More
Fall of the Wall of Silence: More on Pope Francis and Reports of a 'Gay Lobby' in the Roman Curia Read More
Courageous Cardinal George of Chicago Defends Marriage, Calls for Public Conversion Read More
Pope Francis Refers to 'gay lobby' inside Vatican Read More
Why Catholics Have Failed Our Culture: The Bottom Line Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Second Corinthians 9:6-11
But remember: anyone who sows sparsely will reap sparsely as ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 112:1-2, 3-4, 9
Alleluia! How blessed is anyone who fears Yahweh, who delights ... Read More
Gospel, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
'Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. Romuald
June 19: St. Romuald was born at Ravenna about the year 956. In spite ... Read More
Latest Videos
Vatican Museum, Rome - Ceiling and Wall Artwork View Video
Flooding prevents pilgrims from reaching Catholic shrine View Video
Credo Series - Episode 7 View Video
Credo Series - Episode 8 View Video
About 200 people evacuated from the Lourdes Shrine, as floods hit Southern France View Video
Marketplace
Who's Who in Heaven: Real Saints for Families in Plain English Read More
First Communion Rosary Set for Boys, Also Available for Girls. Read More
St. Vincent i hope God has just made this day for me and i know surely that it come to pass that my prayer will reached the alter of God thru your committed prayer. I dearly promises to serve God's church for free in building work and other works of mercy. St. Vincent Ferrer dear servant of the most high pray for this intentions my marriages and wedding, business opening saloon + a photo studio, cinema hall foot ball fees for my children, a happy life and a successfull building plan and registering a construction company in Jesus most holly name Amen
Please pray for Jacob that he finds peace and the right path, for Michelle and Gwen that the doctors can help them and for all cancer patients especially the little children. Dear Lord, thank you for all that you have done for me.
St. Vincent Ferrer, please continue to pray for me to seek and find God's will and listen to his voice, which is often so slow, mute and silent; that requires careful listening with my heart, mind and soul. Thank you.
Please pray for my baby in my womb. San vicente ferrer pray that my pregnancy will be successful and not to shed. I hope my baby will have a good result, his or her whole body, mind and brain will be normal. I hope my baby will be born through natural birth and I hope that it will be born alive and healthy,
Hello. May I ask the community for direction in finding/buying SVF processional banner?
I would very much appreciate a recommendation.
Thanks sincerely.
St Vincent Ferrer, Thank you. Please intercede for me as I pray for a healthy baby boy, a pregnancy without complications.
Thank you St Vincent Ferrer for answering my prayers! Thank you so much, God Bless.
Dear St Vincent Ferrer, please pray for my husband so that he receives favorable employment news today, a successful job application, he is a builder. God Bless you St Vincent Ferrer, for you have always answered my prayers.
St Vincent pray for zyra so she will be succesful and hoping that what ever her plans in the future may come true we pray that she will be hired for singapore which she applying now..
St Vincent, please pray for my husband so that he finds employment soon, he is a builder. God Bless you St Vincent Ferrer, for you have always answered my prayers.
Beloved Saint Vincent please pray for me . I am on the way to your tomb at Vannes
St. Vincent, please pray for me tomorrow. I have a mitral valve prolapse, which is a heart disease. I'm going to have a tooth extraction, please give me the courage, to be strong, not to panic, to be able to finish it with tolerable pain and with calmness. With God be my side, I would be just fine.
Dear St. Vincent Ferer, Please pray for me to do everything right, as you did, that earned the acclaim of many, including your critics, since you always did the will of God. Thank You.
oh St. Vincent pray for me to have knowledge skills in constructing building amen.
St. Vincent Ferrer, pray for us, poor sinners on this Maundy Thursday, for to be in love with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. St.Vincent, bold and brave intercede for all children born with pervasive developmental delays. Grant that God in His mercy will give them a permanent cure. That free from the terrible suffering these children will have a chance of living an independent life, earn academic success and hold a job. Amen.
Happy feast day St. Vincent Ferrer! We hope to return to Vannes to visit you again someday. please intercede for all the parishioners of San Vicente Ferrer church here in Binan, Laguna. Please help me, along with St. Jude and all the other saints and angels, to intercede to the Most Holy Trinity to help me pass all my classes in school. Thank you.
St. Vincent Ferrer, help me to heal my left thigh and also my family especially my son Mark Christian, my daughter Faith Margarette and my beloved husband Ferdinand Bragais that love, happiness, good health and peace will reign in our family with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
"Zechariah 14:7"
Oftentimes we look forward with forebodings to the time of old age, forgetful that at eventide it shall be light. To many saints, old age is the choicest season in their lives. A balmier air fans the mariner’s cheek as he nears the shore of immortality, fewer waves ruffle his sea, quiet reigns, deep, still and solemn. From the altar of age the flashes of the fire of youth are gone, but the more real flame of earnest feeling remains. The pilgrims have reached the land Beulah, that happy country, whose days are as the days of heaven upon earth. Angels visit it, celestial gales blow over it, flowers of paradise grow in it, and the air is filled with seraphic music. Some dwell here for years, and others come to it but a few hours before their departure, but it is an Eden on earth. We may well long for the time when we shall recline in its shady groves and be satisfied with hope until the time of fruition comes. The setting sun seems larger than when aloft in the sky, and a splendour of glory tinges all the clouds which surround his going down. Pain breaks not the calm of the sweet twilight of age, for strength made perfect in weakness bears up with patience under it all. Ripe fruits of choice experience are gathered as the rare repast of life’s evening, and the soul prepares itself for rest. The Lord’s people shall also enjoy light in the hour of death. Unbelief laments; the shadows fall, the night is coming, existence is ending. Ah no, crieth faith, the night is far spent, the true day is at hand. Light is come, the light of immortality, the light of a Father’s countenance. Gather up thy feet in the bed, see the waiting bands of spirits! Angels waft thee away. Farewell, beloved one, thou art gone, thou wavest thine hand. Ah, now it is light. The pearly gates are open, the golden streets shine in the jasper light. We cover our eyes, but thou beholdest the unseen; adieu, brother, thou hast light at even-tide, such as we have not yet.
"Hebrews 2:18"
It is a common-place thought, and yet it tastes like nectar to the weary heart-Jesus was tempted as I am. You have heard that truth many times: have you grasped it? He was tempted to the very same sins into which we fall. Do not dissociate Jesus from our common manhood. It is a dark room which you are going through, but Jesus went through it before. It is a sharp fight which you are waging, but Jesus has stood foot to foot with the same enemy. Let us be of good cheer, Christ has borne the load before us, and the blood-stained footsteps of the King of glory may be seen along the road which we traverse at this hour. There is something sweeter yet-Jesus was tempted, but Jesus never sinned. Then, my soul, it is not needful for thee to sin, for Jesus was a man, and if one man endured these temptations and sinned not, then in his power his members may also cease from sin. Some beginners in the divine life think that they cannot be tempted without sinning, but they mistake; there is no sin in being tempted, but there is sin in yielding to temptation. Herein is comfort for the sorely tempted ones. There is still more to encourage them if they reflect that the Lord Jesus, though tempted, gloriously triumphed, and as he overcame, so surely shall his followers also, for Jesus is the representative man for his people; the Head has triumphed, and the members share in the victory. Fears are needless, for Christ is with us, armed for our defence. Our place of safety is the bosom of the Saviour. Perhaps we are tempted just now, in order to drive us nearer to him. Blessed be any wind that blows us into the port of our Saviour’s love! Happy wounds, which make us seek the beloved Physician. Ye tempted ones, come to your tempted Saviour, for he can be touched with a feeling of your infirmities, and will succour every tried and tempted one.
Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainspring and the mainstay of our joy here. It will animate our hearts to think often of heaven, for all that we can desire is promised there. Here we are weary and toilworn, but yonder is the land of rest where the sweat of labour shall no more bedew the worker’s brow, and fatigue shall be for ever banished. To those who are weary and spent, the word “rest” is full of heaven. We are always in the field of battle; we are so tempted within, and so molested by foes without, that we have little or no peace; but in heaven we shall enjoy the victory, when the banner shall be waved aloft in triumph, and the sword shall be sheathed, and we shall hear our Captain say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We have suffered bereavement after bereavement, but we are going to the land of the immortal where graves are unknown things. Here sin is a constant grief to us, but there we shall be perfectly holy, for there shall by no means enter into that kingdom anything which defileth. Hemlock springs not up in the furrows of celestial fields. Oh! is it not joy, that you are not to be in banishment for ever, that you are not to dwell eternally in this wilderness, but shall soon inherit Canaan? Nevertheless let it never be said of us, that we are dreaming about the future and forgetting the present, let the future sanctify the present to highest uses. Through the Spirit of God the hope of heaven is the most potent force for the product of virtue; it is a fountain of joyous effort, it is the corner stone of cheerful holiness. The man who has this hope in him goes about his work with vigour, for the joy of the Lord is his strength. He fights against temptation with ardour, for the hope of the next world repels the fiery darts of the adversary. He can labour without present reward, for he looks for a reward in the world to come.