Life of Saint Vincent Ferrer

The monk Vincent Ferrer lived in a Dominican monastery in Valencia and was one of the most famous preachers in medieval Spain. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. The text at hand, La vida de sant Vicent Ferrer, tells of the life and great deeds of the cleric. It is the first biography of Ferrer worldwide. The work was composed by a prominent Spanish author and is illustrated with an impressive portrait of the saint.

Top-Class Literature

The biography of Saint Vincent Ferrer was composed by the author Miquel Pereç in the local Valencian language of the Middle Ages. Pereç primarily attained great fame through his work Obres o trobes en laors de la Verge Maria. His texts are counted among the first printed books in Spain and today are considered to be the cornerstone of the written Valencian language. The saint’s biography was printed by the famous publisher and graphic artist Joan Joffre. He was the owner of the most important printing house in Spain during the early 16th century.

Who was St. Vincent Ferrer?

Vincent Ferrer entered the Dominican order in Valencia in the year 1367 at the age of 17 because, according to legend, he was called by a divine vision. Due to his charismatic vibrancy, he was soon chosen to be a wandering preacher of repentance. His obtained his exceptional ecclesiopolitical significance through his decisive contribution to ending the Great Western Schism in 1378. Furthermore, he authored various theological treatises. His personal charisma, simple lifestyle, but above all the proclamation of an imminent apocalypse like the anticipated battle against the Antichrist bestowed enormous popularity upon him. That being said, he was also known for the dissemination of anti-Jewish visions of the end of days. In his biography, the focus lies on the numerous great deeds performed by the Saint for the Catholic Church in Spain.

An Exciting Saint’s Legend

The Life of St. Vincent Ferrer is not a historically verifiable or reliable biography. It represents more of a eulogy to the good actions of the important Catholic preacher. It is a collection of memories from the Saint’s turbulent life, which have been collected and enshrined in the Spanish tradition. His devotion, prophecies, and miracles were all portrayed. As a result, the preciously-designed book does not represent a reliable source for historians, but is nonetheless an absolute jewel of Spanish literature during the Middle Ages and offers enjoyable reading for both young and old with its exciting depictions.