The Saint we celebrate today in the midst of the holy season of Lent is St Vincent Ferrer, a Dominican priest who was born in Valencia, Spain in the 14th century. He was ordained a priest in Barcelona, Spain in 1379, one year after a Schism divided the Catholic Church, in which there were different men who claimed to be pope, one in Rome and one in Avignon, France. Although he was a supporter of the two succeeding men who claimed to be pope in Avignon, he worked to heal the schism, which ended when the Avignon pope 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 many different kingdoms in Spain, gaining 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.
Today, as we commemorate the first Saturday devotion dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and our Lady of Fatima, we hear the psalmist proclaim: “O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me.” We take comfort and refuge in the Lord. Even though we still have our struggles and our crosses to bear, the Lord is with us to give us strength and courage. We also remember today that Mary is with us always as our Mother and the Mother of the Church, guiding through the pitfalls of life.
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