Today's Ornament of Grace for Saturday of the Second Week of Advent is St. Vincent Ferrer, OP.
Matthew 17:9a, 10-13
…The disciples put this question to him: “Why do the scribes claim that Elijah must come first?” In reply, he said: “Elijah is indeed coming, and he will restore everything. I assure you, though, that Elijah has already come, but they did not recognize him and did as they pleased with him. The Son of Man will suffer at their hands in the same way.” The disciples then realized that he had been speaking to them about John the Baptizer.
Today’s Gospel picks up just after the Transfiguration where Peter, James, and John saw Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah and being transfigured. Jesus showed these disciples that he valued the law and the prophets. Now Jesus explains to them that John the Baptist is the new Elijah preparing the way for the Messiah. Jesus also shows that true prophets must suffer as John suffered and warns the disciples of His own suffering to come.
St. Vincent Ferrer was a follower of Jesus and lived much like John the Baptist in preparing people of his time to recognize Jesus as Savior through true repentance. Like John, Vincent got an early start in knowing the Lord. Finishing his classical studies at 8 years of age, he began to learn theology and philosophy at 14. By 18, Ferrer had decided to enter the Dominican Order where, in the novitiate, he suffered great temptations to leave. Through penance, he conquered these desires, was professed, and, by age 29, was ordained a priest. He then earned a doctorate in theology and taught at the university level. He served as spiritual director for one of the three men claiming to be Pope at the time. Soon, Vincent set out to evangelize Western Europe.
Though mild-mannered and kind, Vincent was an eloquent, fiery speaker like John the Baptist before him. He converted many over twenty-plus years. Vincent practiced penance, showing by his life the beliefs he promoted, offering his suffering so that others could desire eternal life.
Vincent did not eat grasshoppers or wear animal skin as John the Baptist had, but he wore very poor clothing and lived simply. Fasting constantly, he would rise at 2:00 a.m. to pray. Every day he celebrated Mass, preached for hours, tended the sick, and carefully prepared his homily for the next day before retiring. In Jesus’ name, he worked miracles.
While Vincent is known for converting many Jewish people to Catholicism, he would not consider that his goal. One source said that he led mobs to seize a synagogue and make it into a church, but another reliable source relates that the Jewish converts made their synagogue into a church. No one is perfect, and we do not know the whole truth. Another reliable source explains that Vincent stopped riots against Jews and, with his eloquence, talked people bent on persecuting the Jews to be at peace with them. Since he was mild-mannered by nature, it is hard to imagine he used his voice for anything other than good.
What we know for sure is that Vincent, called by God as all of us are, used his gifts and his life to prepare the way for Jesus, our Savior, to come into their hearts. Was he imperfect? Yes. Is that hopeful for us all? Yes.
OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS
This Advent, how can we, like St. John the Baptist or St. Vincent Ferrer, use our gifts to prepare our own heart and the hearts of others to receive the Savior?
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