Vincent Ferraris (Vicente Ferrer), St

Vincent Ferraris (Vicente Ferrer), St.

a Spanish monk, was born at Valencia, Jan. 23, 1355. His parents, although of moderate means, took great pains to develop his talents, so that at the age of twelve he studied philosophy, and at seventeen he passed beyond, the ability of his instructors. He entered the Order of St. Dominic, Feb. 5, 1374, taught for some time, then preached at Barcelona, and went to Lerida in 1384 to receive the doctorate in theology. In 1385 he expounded Scripture in the Cathedral of Valencia, and preached with such success that the legate Peter took him in 1391 to Paris, and in 1394 he was called to Rome as confessor of the papal palace. In 1397 he resumed preaching, passing through the cities of Spain, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Ireland, speaking with great fluency and oratorical elegance in the language of each country, but encountering many scenes of violence. In 1412 he was a delegate to the body, which, elected Ferdinand of Aragon to the throne; in 1415 he counseled in favor of Martin V as pope; and in 1417 he received a triumphal reception to Vannes in Brittany. He died there April 5,1419, and was canonized by Calixtus III, on June 29, 1455, although the bull to that effect was not published till Oct. 1, 1458. He left sermons and a few other religious works, for which see Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, s.v.