Born: January 23, 1350, Valencia (modern-day Spain)

Died: April 5, 1419, Vannes, Brittany (modern-day France)

Nationality: Spanish (Valencian)

Vocation: priest, religious 

Attributes: habit, tonsure, finger pointed up (preaching), pulpit, Bible/scroll

Patronage: builders/construction workers, plumbers, prisoners, Valencia

Canonization: 1455, by Pope Callixtus III

Whatever you do, think not of yourself, but of God.

Vincent Ferrer is honored as the patron saint of builders – and during his life, helped build – and rebuild – the Church by using his God-given gift of preaching the Good News. Compared by some to John the Baptist, he traveled throughout Europe proclaiming the Word teaching of repentance but also Christ’s endless mercy and forgiveness.

The saint was born in Valencia (then part of the crown of Aragon) to a father descended from the English and Scottish nobility, and a Spanish mother. Both of his parents were pious and gave alms to the poor. His brother, Boniface, became a Carthusian monk and went on to serve the order as superior general.

Despite opposition from his parents who wanted him to be a parish priest, Vincent joined the Dominicans at the age of 18 or 19. There, he quickly demonstrated his talent for preaching and gift of prophecy. The young Dominican was said to have memorized a large portion of the Bible and the Church fathers. 

However, when Vincent was still in his 20’s, the church entered a decades-long period of significant upheaval, division, and crisis known as the Western Schism. Following the death of Pope Gregory XI in 1378, it became unclear to many of the faithful who his rightful successor was. 

Gregory, like the six preceding popes, had resided in Avignon, France. At the time of his passing, his successor was disputed to be either Pope Urban VI in Rome (who the Church now recognizes as the rightful pope), or Antipope Clement VII in Avignon. The schism had effectively divided Western Christianity down the middle.  

Living Christ’s own words, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9), Vincent did everything in his power to try to resolve the conflict and unify the Church. On several occasions, he opened negotiations with Clement’s successor in Avignon, Antipope Benedict XIII, to reconcile with Rome and resign. 

Although Benedict was recognized as “pope” throughout Vincent’s native Spain, the future saint soon realized that he was not the true successor to the Chair of St. Peter. Instead, the antipope attempted to appoint the Dominican as a bishop, but he declined, shunning the lives of opulence most contemporary prelates led. 

“I blush and tremble when I consider the terrible judgment impending on ecclesiastical superiors who live at their ease in rich palaces, while so many souls redeemed by the blood of Christ are perishing,” Vincent wrote. “I pray without ceasing, to the Lord of the harvest, that he send good workmen into his harvest.”

The Western Schism was eventually ended by the Council of Constance in 1417, two years before Vincent’s death. The council declared Benedict’s claimed “papacy” schismatic and excommunicated him. Martin V was elected by the council to be the new pope. 

Vincent continued preaching and attracted thousands with his words condemning sexual immorality, greed, and willful ignorance of the Church’s teachings. His many missions took him throughout Spain and France, as well as what is now Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Scotland, and Italy and many were converted.

Vincent practiced extreme asceticism and spent hours daily hearing confessions. The great preacher died in 1419 and was canonized less than 40 years later.

St. Vincent Ferrer, pray for us.