April 4, 2024

Hello John,

Do you want a closer relationship with Mary and her son, like I do? If so, then I am so excited to introduce you to Franciscan Media's latest book, Universal Mother: A Journal for Finding Yourself in Mary.

This beautiful and inspiring journal depicts Mother Mary in 20 paintings by Holly Schapker and features personal reflections from artist and art historian Cecelia Dorger!

"The paintings in this book portray Mary in various times, cultures, ethnic characters, and styles to show her universal appeal and love for all God's children."

—Universal Mother: A Journal for Finding Yourself in Mary

With profound gratitude, 

Tara Hemelgarn
Marketing Manager

Saint of the Day for April 5: Vincent Ferrer

(January 23, 1350 – April 5, 1419)

Saint Vincent Ferrer’s Story

The polarization in the Church today is a mild breeze compared with the tornado that ripped the Church apart during the lifetime of this saint. If any saint is a patron of reconciliation, Vincent Ferrer is.

Despite parental opposition, he entered the Dominican Order in his native Spain at 19. After brilliant studies, he was ordained a priest by Cardinal Peter de Luna—who would figure tragically in his life.

Of a very ardent nature, Vincent practiced the austerities of his Order with great energy. He was chosen prior of the Dominican house in Valencia shortly after his ordination.

The Western schism divided Christianity first between two, then three, popes. Clement VII lived at Avignon in France, Urban VI in Rome. Vincent was convinced the election of Urban was invalid, though Catherine of Siena was just as devoted a supporter of the Roman pope. In the service of Cardinal de Luna, Vincent worked to persuade Spaniards to follow Clement. When Clement died, Cardinal de Luna was elected at Avignon and became Benedict XIII.

Vincent worked for him as apostolic penitentiary and Master of the Sacred Palace. But the new pope did not resign as all candidates in the conclave had sworn to do. He remained stubborn, despite being deserted by the French king and nearly all of the cardinals.

Vincent became disillusioned and very ill, but finally took up the work of simply “going through the world preaching Christ,” though he felt that any renewal in the Church depended on healing the schism. An eloquent and fiery preacher, he spent the last 20 years of his life spreading the Good News in Spain, France, Switzerland, the Low Countries and Lombardy, stressing the need of repentance and the fear of coming judgment. He became known as the “Angel of the Judgment.”

Vincent tried unsuccessfully, in 1408 and 1415, to persuade his former friend to resign. He finally concluded that Benedict was not the true pope. Though very ill, he mounted the pulpit before an assembly over which Benedict himself was presiding, and thundered his denunciation of the man who had ordained him a priest. Benedict fled for his life, abandoned by those who had formerly supported him. Strangely, Vincent had no part in the Council of Constance, which ended the schism.

Reflection

The split in the Church at the time of Vincent Ferrer should have been fatal—36 long years of having two “heads.” We cannot imagine what condition the Church today would be in if, for that length of time, half the world had followed a succession of popes in Rome, and half an equally “official” number of popes in say, Rio de Janeiro. It is an ongoing miracle that the Church has not long since been shipwrecked on the rocks of pride and ignorance, greed and ambition. Contrary to Lowell’s words, “Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne,” we believe that “truth is mighty, and it shall prevail”—but it sometimes takes a long time.

Saint Vincent Ferrer is the Patron Saint of:

Builders
Businessmen
Reconciliation

“We look to Mary to cultivate in our hearts a mind beyond the one we have now, so that we too can fulfill Christ's mission. The whole world gives way to her influence.”

—from Universal Mother, by Holly Schapker and Cecelia Dorger

Francis undoubtedly carried a bit of guilt about his dramatic and showy rejection of his father in the city square many years before. He undoubtedly recognized there was still a lot of ego in what he had done: publicly shamed his human father in his youthful search for the heavenly father. A mature saint would not have done that. He now knew better, but he could not repair the utterly broken relationship.

That continual rejection from his father hurt so much that Francis would invite a beggar from the streets to accompany him, walk by his side, and protect his soul. He instructed him, “When my father hurls curses and abuse at me, I will hear them painfully in one ear, but I ask you to walk on my other side and whisper God’s favor into my other ear: ‘Francis, you are my beloved son. You are a son of heaven and a son of God.’ Just keep repeating it until I can believe it again!” That alone could save him from the sour and sad heart that a father’s rejection forever bestows on a son.

—from the book From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality
by Richard Rohr

A Journal for Finding Yourself in Mary

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