The Saint we celebrate today, the Monday of the Octave of Easter, is St Vincent Ferrer, a Dominican priest who was born in Valencia in Spain in the middle of the 14th century. He was ordained a priest in Barcelona, Spain in 1379, one year after a Schism was dividing the Catholic Church, in which there were different men who claimed to be pope, both in Rome and in Avignon, France. Although he was a supporter of the two succeeding men who claimed to be pope in Avignon, he worked to end the schism, which ended when the Avignon pope lost the pope and was declared a schismatic and was excommunicated. St Vincent Ferrar is most well-known as a skilled missionary. He traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzerland, and different kingdoms in Spain, getting many converts to the faith. Although very intellectual, he could explain the faith in words that people could understand and that would draw them to the faith. He died in Brittany, France in 1419.
It is wonderful to recognize a great missionary saint as we celebrate the Octave of Easter this week. In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles, which we will hear from frequently during in Easter season, as we hear about the formation and development of the Early Church, we hear a great testimony of faith from St Peter in our first reading. St Vincent Ferrer can be seen in the spirit of Peter, as both were missionaries full of joy and zeal for the faith. Peter was especially successful in bring Jewish converts to the faith. During the passion of the Lord during Holy Week, we heard how Peter was fearful, denying the Lord three times and not being strong and confident in his faith. Now, we hear a very confident Peter, who professes his faith and who is about to proclaim to all God’s plan of salvation.
As we ourselves journey through this holy season of Easter, may all of us feel God calling out to us today to be evangelizers and messengers of Christ’s Good News in our corner of the world.
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