January 23 — Saint Raymund of Pegnafort

The glorious choir of Martyrs, that stands round our Emmanuel, till the day of his Presentation in the Temple, opens its ranks, from time to time, to give admission to the Confessors, whom divine Providence has willed should grace the Cycle, during this sacred season. The Martyrs surpass all the other Saints in number; but, still, the Confessors are well represented. After Hilary, Paul, Maurus, and Antony, comes Raymund of Pegnafort, one of the glories of the Order of St. Dominic and of the Church, in the 13th century.

According to the saying of the Prophets, the Messias is come to be our Lawgiver ; nay, he is himself our Law. His words are to be the rule of mankind; he will leave with his Church the power of legislation, to the end that she may guide men in holiness and justice, in all ages. As it is his Truth that presides over the teaching of the Faith, so is it his Wisdom that regulates Canonical Discipline. But the Church, in the compilation and arrangement of her laws, engages the services of men, whom she judges to be the most competent for the work, by their knowledge of Canon Law and the holiness of their Uvea

St. Raymund has the honour of having been intrusted to draw up the Church's Code of Canon Law. It was he who, in the year 1234, compiled, by order of

Pope Gregory the Ninth, the five Books of the Decretals ; and his name will ever be associated with this great work, which forms the basis of the actual discipline of the Church.

Raymund was a faithful disciple of that God, who came down from heaven to save sinners, by calling them to receive pardon. He has merited the beautiful title, conferred on him by the Church, of excellent Minister of the Sacrament of Penance. He was the first who collected together, into one body of doctrine, the maxims of christian morality, which regulate the duties of the confessor with regard to the Faithful, who confess their sins to him. The Sum of Penitential Cases oj)ened the series of those important Treatises, in which learned and holy men have carefully considered the claims of law and the obligations of man, in order to instruct the Priest how to pass jvdgment, as the Scripture says, between leprosy and leprosy}

In fine, when the glorious Mother of God, who is also the Mother of men, raised up, for the Redemption of Captives, the generous Peter Nolasco — whom we shall meet, a few days hence, at the Crib of our Redeemer — Raymund was an important instrument in this great work of mercy; and it is with good reason, that the Order of Mercy looks upon him as one of its Founders, and that so many thousand captives, who were ransomed by the Religious of that Order from the captivity of the Moors, have honoured him as one of the principal authors of their liberty.

Let us now read the account of the actions of this holy man, whose life was indeed a full one, and rich in merit. The Lessons of his Feast thus abridge his history.

Beatus Raymundus Bar- The blessed Raymund was cinonensis, ex nobili fami- born at Barcelona, of the noble Ha do Pennafort, christian® family of Pegnafort Having

1 Deut. xvii. 8. rudi- religionis rudimentis imbutus, adhuc parvulus, eximia animi et corporis indole magnum aliquid portendere visus est. Nam adolescens pro- humaniores litteras in patria professus. Bononiam contulit, ubi pietatis officiis, ac Pontificio, civilique jun sedulo incumbens, et Doctoris laurea insignitus, ibisacros canones magna cum hominum admiratione est interpretatus. £Jjus virtutum fama percrebrescente, Barcinonensis Episcopus, cum Roma suam Ecclesiam rediret, eum causa Bononiam iter instituit, et tansummis precibus, ut secum in patnam reverteretur, obtinuit Mox ejuset Praepositura ornatus, universo clero, et populo, intemodestia, doctrina, et mo rum suavitate praef ulsit, ac Deiparae Virginis, quam singulari pietatis affectu venerabatur, honomo- rem, et cultum semper pro viribus auxit. exneg- been imbued with the ments of the christian faith, the admirable gifts he had received, both of mind and body, were such, that even when quite a boy, he seemed to mise great things in his after so life. Whilst still young, he taught humanities in Barcelona. Later on, he went to Bologna, where he applied himself with much diligence to the dem exercises of a virtuous life, and to the study of canon and civil law. He there received the Doctor's cap, and interpreted Berengarius the sacred canons so ably, that he was the admiration of his act hearers. The holiness of his conveniendi life becoming known far and wide, Berengarius, the Bishop dem of Barcelona, when returning to his diocese from Rome, took Bologna in his way. in order dem Ecclesio Canonicatu, to see him j andf after most earnest entreaties, induced Raymund to accompany him gritate, to Barcelona. He was, shortly after, made Canon and Provost of that Church, and became a model, to the clerey and people, by his uprightness, desty, learning, and meekness, His tender devotion to the Holy Mother of Qod was traordinary, and he never lected an opportunity of zea-

Annum circiter quintum supra quadragesimumagens, Ordine Fratrum Praedicatorum solemni emissa professione, ut novus miles, in omni virtutum genere, sed praecipue in charitate erga

^ When he was about fortyfive years of age, he made his solemn profession in the Order in of the Friars Preachers. He then, as a soldier but just entered into service, devoted himself to the exercise of every and honour which are due to her. epenos, et maiime captivos virtue, but, above all, to cha- ao infidelibus detentos se rity to the poor, and this exercuit. Unde cum ejus mainly to the captives, who hortatu sanctus Petrus No- had been taken by the infidels, lascus (cujus ipse confessio- It was by his exhortation, that nes audiebat) suas opes piis- St Peter Nolasco (who was simo huic operi conferret, his penitent) was induced to turn eidem, turn beato Ray- devote all his riches to this mundo, et Jacobo Primo work of most meritorious cha-

Arragonitt Regi apparens rity. The Blessed Virgin ap- beatissima Virgo, gratissi- peared to Peter, as also to mum sibi, et unigenito Filio blessed Ray mund and to J ames suo fore dixit, si in suum the First, King of Arragon, honorem institueretur Ordo telling them, that it would be tivos ex infidehum tyran- and her divine Child, if an nide liberandi cura incum- Order of Religious men were berot. Quare collatis inter instituted, whose mission it se consiliis, Ordinem beatas should be to deliver captives

Maria de Mercede Redemp- from the tyranny of infidels, tionis captivorura fundave- Whereupon, after deliberating runt: cui beatus Raymun- together, they founded the duscertas vivendi leges pr»- Order of our Lady of Mercy scripsit ad ejusdem Ordinis for the Ransom of Captives ; vocationem accommodatis- and blessed Raymund drew up simas : quarum approbatio- certain rules of life, which nem aliquot post annos a were admirably adapted to the

Gregorio Nono impetravit, spirit and vocation of the said et dictum sanctum Petrum Order. Some years after, he

Srimum Qeneralem Ordinis obtained their approbation lagistrum suis ipse mani- from Gregory the Ninth, and bus nabitu eodem indutum made St. Peter Nolasco, to

Ab eodem Gregorio Ro- Raymund was called to mam accersitus, et Capel- Rome by the same Pope, who lani, ac Poenitentiarii, et appointed him to be his Chap-

Confessarii sui munere de- lain, Penitentiary, and Con- coratus, ejusdem jussu, Ro- fessor. It was by Gregory's manorum Pontincum De- order that he collected to- creta, in diversis Conciliis gether, in the volume called et Epistolis sparsa, in unum the Decretals, the Decrees of

Decretal ium volumen rede- the Roman Pontiffs, which git. Archiepiscopatum Tar- were to be found separately in raconensem ab ipso Ponti- the various Councils and Let- fice sibi oblatum cons tan- ters. He was most resolute in creavit whom he gave the habit with his own hands, first General of the Order. refusing the Archbishopric of Tarragon, which the same Pontiff offered to him, and, of his own accord, resigned the Generalship of the Dominican Order, which office he had discharged, in a most holy manner, for the space of two years. He persuaded James, the King of Arragon, to establish in his dominions the Holy-Office of the Inquisition. He worked many miracles ; among which is that most celebrated one of his having, when returning to Barcelona from the island of Majorca, spread his cloak upon the sea, and sailed upon it, in the space of six hours, the distance of a hundred ana sixty miles, and having reached his convent, he entered it through the closed doors. At length, when he had almost reached the hundredth year of his age, and was full of virtue and merit,he slept in the Lord, in the year of the Incarnation 1275. He was canonised by Pope Clement the Eighth. tissime recusavit : et totius

Ordinis Pradicatoruni generate Magisterium, quod per biennium sanctissime admin istrave rat, sponte dimisit. Jacobo Arragonioe Regi sacra Inquisitioms Officii suis in regnis instituendi auctor fuit. Multa patravit miracula : inter quad illud clarissimum, quod ex insula Baleari Majori Barcinonem reversurus, strato super aquas pallio, centum sexaginta milliaria sex horis confecerit, et suum ccenobium januis clausis fuerit ingress us. Tandem prope centenarius, virtutibus, et mentis cumulatus obdormivit in Domino, anno aalutis millesimo ducentesimo septuagesimo quinto, quern Clemens Octavus in Sanctorum numerum retuliU

We take the following Hymn from the Dominican Breviary.

HYMN.

Prelates, Kings, and people of the earth 1 celebrate the glorious name of RaymuncL to whom the salvation of all mankind was an object of loving care.

His pure and spotless life reflected all the marvels of the

Grande Raymundi brate nomen, Praeules, Beges, populique terra :

Cujus aeternae fuit universis Cura salutis. Quidquid est alta pietate mirum niveosque rutilare

Exhibet purua, mo rum : Orano virtu turn ceraiB Lumen in ilia Sparsa Summorum nimenta Patrum Colligit mira studiosus arte : (jueque sunt prisci sacra digna cedro Dogmata juria.

Doctufl infidnm aolidare pontum, Curnt invectus ftadio patent!:

Teste component, baculoque cymbam, jEquora calcat * Da, Dens nobis sine labe mores,

Da vit» tntnm sine clade cursum : Da perennalis sine fine vitas

Tangere portum. Amen. mystic life ; and the light of every virtue shines brightly forth in him.

With admirable study and research, he collects together the scattered Decrees of the Sovereign Pontiffs, and all the sacred maxims of the ancient Canons, so worthy to be handed down to all ages.

He bids the treacherous sea be firm, and on her open waters carry him to land ; he spreads his mantle, and his staff the mast, he rides upon the waves.

Grant us, O Lord, to traverse through the sea of life with innocence and safety, and reach at length the port of life eternal Amen,

Faithful dispenser of the Mystery of reconciliation 1 it was from tne Heart of an Incarnate God, that thou didst draw the sweet charity, which made thee the friend of the sinner. Thou didst love thy fellowmen, and didst labour to supply all their wants, whether of soul or body. Enlightened by the rays of the Sun of Justice, thou hast taught us how to discern between good and evil, by giving us those rules whereby our wounds are judged and healed. Rome was the admirer of thy knowledge of her laws, and it is one of her dories that she received from thy hand the sacred Code whereby she governs the Churches of the world.

Excite in our hearts, O Raymund! that sincere compunction, which is the condition required of us when we seek our pardon in the Sacrament of Penance. Make us understand both the grie vousness of mortal sin, which separates us from our God for all eternity, and the dangers of venial sin, which disposes the tepid soul to fall into mortal sin. Pray, that there may abound in the Church men filled with charity and learning, who may exercise that sublime ministry of healing souls. Preserve them from the two extremes, of rigorism which drives to despair, and of laxity which flatters into sloth. Revive amongst them the study of the holy Canons, which can alone keep disorder and anarchy from the fold of Christ. Oh ! thou that hadst such tender love for captives, console all that are pining now in exile or in prison ; pray for their deliverance ; and pray that we all may be set loose from the ties of sm, which but too often make them, who boast of their outward liberty, be slaves in their souls.

Thou wast the confidant of the Heart of Mary, the Queen of Mercy, and she made thee share with her in the work of the Redemption of Captivea Thou hast great power with this Heart, which, after the Heart of Jesus, is our hope. Pray for us to this incomparable Mother of God, that we may have the grace to love the Divine Child she holds in her arms. May she be induced, by thy prayers, to be our Star on the Sea of this world, more stormy far than that which Thou didst pass, when sailing on thy miraculous bark.

Remember, too, thy dear Spain, where thou didst because she has lost the Religious Orders which made her so grand and so strong : pray that they may be speedily restored to her, and assist her as of old. Protect the Dominican Order, of whose Habit and Rule thou wast so bright an ornament Thou didst govern it with great prudence, whilst on earth ; now that thou art in heaven, be a father to it by thy love. thy saintly life.

May it repair its losses. May it once more flourish in the universal Church, and produce, as in former days, those fruits of holiness and learning, which made it one of the chief glories of the Church of God.