Ferrer or Ferrier, Vincentius

Ferrer Or Ferrier, Vincentius (St.), a Dominican monk, was born in Valencia Jan. 23, 1357. He entered the order in 1374, and is 1380 he went to the University of Barcelona, where he spent two years. In 1384 he was made doctor at Lerida. In 1395 he was called to Avignon by pope Benedict XIII as master of the palace, and here he conceived the idea of devoting his life to the healing of the schism in the papacy which then threatened the destruction of the Roman Church. He carried out this idea by declaring for Martin V, and by striving for a reunion in many writings, and by vast labors and travels in Spain, France, Italy, and the British Islands. He died at Vannes, in Brittany, April 5, 1419, and was canonized by pope Calixtus in 1455. His writings aro said to be poor in thought and language.-Mosheim, Ch. Hist. cent. 15:pt. ii, ch. ii, n. 75; Butler, Lives of the Saints, April 5.