April 4 — Saint Vincent Ferrer. * Saint Vincent Ferrer. Confessor. ♦

To-DAY, again, it is Catholic Spain that offers one of her Sons to the Church, that she may present him to the Christian world as a model and a patron. Vincent Ferrer, or, as he was called, the Angel of the Judgment, comes to us proclaiming the near approach of the Judge of the living and the dead. During his life time, he traversed almost every country of Europe, preaching this terrible truth ; and the people of those times went from his sermons striking their breasts, crying out to God to have mercy upon them, — in a word, converted. He now sees, from his throne in heaven, the Faithful regenerated by Penance, fortified by the Bread of Life, and risen again with Christ Jesus. True, all have not obeyed the call of grace ; but, if we recommend them that have, so far, remained obstinate in their sins to the great Apostle of to-day, he may perhaps speak to their hearts, in the name of the Master of the Vineyard, and prepare the labourers of the eleventh hour to receive their hire.

^ St. Vincent has treated of the mystery of Easter in sixteen of his Sermons still extant. He there develops, with the learning and simplicity of his time, the glories and wonders of Christ's Resurrection. We offer our readers a passage from the second of these Sermons ; it was preached on the very day of

Easter. The Saint speaks of our Lord's first apparition, which, in common with the Saints and the most esteemed Theologians, he unhesitatingly asserts to have been made to our Blessed Lady.

" That Jesus' first visit was to the Virgin Mary, " his Mother, is expressly taught by St. Ambrose, m " his Book De Virginians, where he says : * Mary " ' saw the Resurrection of Christ, and she was the " ' first to see it.' If the Evangelists have not mentioned the fact, it was because they would only ''adduce disinterested witnesses, and a Mother is "surely not to be counted as such. As to the

• reasons in support of such teaching, they are three. "The first is the divine commandment given to " children with regard to their parents. Mary had " suffered more than any one else in the Passion of

• her Son ; he, therefore, was sure to give her consolation in preference to all others, he, who, out of " filial regard for her, had spared her the pains of " child-birth, and, at a future period, would not allow " her to suffer those of death. The second reason is "the merit of Mary's faith. During the Passion, " the Apostles and Disciples lost their faith ; they "doubted their Master's being the true God and "Messias; they looked upon him as nothing more " than a great Prophet. Mary was the only one, who "firmly believed in him during the whole of the " Saturday, which has led the Faithful to consecrate " that day of the week to her honour. Jesus, therefore, would fulfil, in her favour, that which is " written : The Lord showeth himself to them that "have faith in him. The third reason is the great- " ness of the love that burned in her heart, for most " certainly, never did mother love her child, as Mary " did hers. Now, J esus has said : He that loveth me, " shall be loved of my Father : and I twill love him,

• \ • \ % 'Wisd.i, 2.

"and will manifest myself to him. Jesus must, " therefore, have appeared to Mary first of all.

" And now let us speak of the manner in which " this apparition was effected. Mary had no doubt " as to her Son's rising again on the third day, for he " had said that it would be so ; but, perhaps, she did "not know the hour when his Resurrection would u take place. The night seemed long to her. She "began to recite the Psaltery; and having reached " the 56th Psalm, she came upon the words, spoken by "the Father, Arise, 0 my glory! Arise, psaltery " and harp ! The Son answers : / will arise early. " Further on, in the same book of Psalms, she found " the same words. She then interrupted her prayer, " to see if day-break was approaching; but finding that " there was as yet no appearance of it, she returned " to her Psaltery, and finished it. Anxious to find "some prophecy clearer than David's, she opened "Osee, and read these words: Be will revive us, " after three days : on the third day, he will raise " us up, and we shall live in his presence. We shall " know ; and we shall follow on, that we may know " the Lord. Bis going forth is prepared as the u morning light. Then Mary stood up and said: " ' Three testimonies are enough P — and she prepared u a seat for Jesus. ' Here/ said she, * shall my Son u ' sit ! here will I speak to him !' She turned towards "the window, and saw that day-break had begun, " and exclaimed with joy : ' My Son will soon arise !' " Then falling on her knees, she thus prayed : Rise " wp thou to meet me, 0 Lord ! open thine eyes, even " thou, 0 God of Hosts ! 0 God of Israel !A Straightway, Jesus sent the Angel Gabriel to her, saying : * ' Gk> ! and, as thou didst announce to her mine "'Incarnation, announce to her my Resurrection!'

1 Sfc. John, xiv. 21. 3 Osee, vi. 3.

9Ps cvii.3. , , « Ps.lviii.6.

" The glad Angel appeared to the Virgin, and said to " her : ' Rejoice, O Queen of heaven, alleluia ! for he " ' whom thou deservedst to bear, alleluia ! hath risen, " ' as he said, alleluia ! ' At that instant, her Blessed " Son entered, and thousands of the elect with him. " Jesus greeted his Mother with these words : ' Peace "be with thee!' The Virgin threw herself on her "knees; she wept for joy; she adored him, and, "kissing his feet and hands, said : ' 0 dear Wounds, " ' which made me suffer so much on Friday !' J esus "threw his arms round her, and said: cMy Mother! "'rejoice! joy and gladness must alone now fill thy " ' heart ! ' He wiped away her tears, sat on the seat she "had prepared for him, and conversed with her most "affectionately. In the course of their conversation, "Mary said to Jesus: 'Hitherto, my Son, I have " 1 kept holy the Saturday, in remembrance of God's " ' rest after the creation ; henceforth, I will celebrate "'the Sunday, in remembrance of thy resurrection, "'rest and glory/ Jesus approved of the change* "He related to his Mother what he had done in " Limbo, and how he had chained Satan down. He " then presented to her the holy Fathers, whom he " had set free ; they saluted Mary with great respect. " We may imagine Adam and Eve addressing her in "some such words as these: 'Blessed art thou, our " ' Daughter and our Lady ! for it was of thee God " ' spoke when he said to the serpent : / will set "'enmities between the woman and thee* Eve " added : ' By my sin, I caused heaven's gate to be " ' shut ; thou, by grace, hast opened it.' Each of the 4< Prophets said to her :' It is of thee I spoke in such ■ ' ' and such a passage of my book/ Finally, turning " towards her, and wishing her farewell, they said : " ' Thxm art the glory of Jerusalem ! Thou art the joy " ' of Israel ! Thou art the honour of our people V 1

1 Judith, xv. 10.

The Blessed Mother answered them in these words : ' Ye are a chosen generation, a kingly "Priesthood, a holy Nation, a purchased People; ' ' that ye may declare the virtues of Him that hath * 6 called you out of darkness into his marvellous < * light ! 9 1 After Jesus had consoled his Mother, our ' Lady of Consolation then besought her Son to go 'and console Mary Magdalene, who loved him so ' devotedly, and who was heart-broken at his death. ; 4 The Apostles,' she said, * were much grieved by thy

• • Passion ; but Magdalene's grief surpassed theirs.
• • Deign to console her, as also my sisters, who set * ' out, this morning, for the Sepulchre, in order to 1 ' embalm thy Body.* " 3

The Roman Liturgy gives us, in the Matins of to-day, the following abridged account of the Life of this holy Servant of God.

Vincent was born at Valencia, in Spain, of respectable parents. He showed the gravity of old age, even when quite a child. Considering within himself, as far as his youthful mind knew it, the dangers of this dark world, he received the Habit in the Order of Preachers when he was eighteen years of age. After his solemn profession, he diligently applied himself to sacred studies, and gained, with much applause, the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Shortly after this, he obtained leave from his superiors to preach the word of God. He

Vincentius honesta stirpe Valentiae in Hispania natus, ab ineunte setate cor gessit senile. Qui dum caliginosi hujus saBculi labilem cursum pro ingenii sui modulo consideraret, Eeligionis habitum in Ordine Prsedicatorum decimo octavo setatis suae anno suscepit ; et emissa solemni professione, sacris litteri sedulo incumbens, Theologiae lauream summa cum Taude consecutus est. Moz obtenta a superioribus licentia, verbum Dei prredicare, J udseorum perfidiam arguere, Saracenorum errores confu-

1 1. St. Peter ii. 10. 8 Sermone S. Vincentii. Serm. II.

Pars cest%val%8. In die sancto Paschce. tare, tan tavirtuteetefficacia ccepit, ut ingentum ipsorum infidelium multitudinem ad Christi fidem perduxerit, et multa Christianorum millia, a peccatis ad poenitentiam, a vitiis ad virtutem revocarit Electus enim a Deo, ut monita salutis in omnes gentes, tribus et linguas difet extremi tremendique judicii diem appropinquare ostenderet, omnium auditorum animos terrore concussos, atque a terrenis affectibus avulsos, ad Dei amorem excitabat. exposed the perfidy of the Jews, and refuted the false doctrines of the Saracens, but with so much earnestness and success, that he brought a great number of infidels to the faith of Christ, and converted many thousand Christians from sin to repentance, and from vice to virtue. God had fund ere t, chosen him to teach the way of salvation to all nations, and tribes, and tongues; as also to warn men of the coming of the last and dread Day of Judgment. He so preached, that he struck terror into the

In hoc autem apostolico exmunere hie vitae ejus tenor ercising minds of all his hearers, and turned them from earthly affections to the love of God. His mode of life, whilst this office of apostolic

Perpetuus f uit Quotidie [issam summo mane cum cantu celebravit, quotidie ad populum concionem ha- mon buit, inviolabile semper jejunium, nisi urgens adesnecessitas, servavit ; prusancta, et recta consilia dent connullis denegavit, carnes numquam comedit, nec vestem lineam induit, poconpulorum jurgia sedavit, dissidentia regna pace composuit ; et cum vestis inconsutilis Ecclesias diro schismate scinderetur, ut uniseamretur, et unita servaretur, plurimum laboravit Virtutibus omnibus claruit, suosque detractores et per- in secutores, in simplicitate, et humilitate ambulans, revilers cum mansuetudine recepit, et amplexus est. Per ipsum divin virtus, preaching, was as follows : he every day sang Mass early in the morning, delivered a serto the people, and, unless absolutely obliged to do otherwise, observed a strict set fast. He gave holy and advice to all who suited him. He never ate flesh meat, or wore linen garments. He reconciled tending parties, and restored peace among nations that were at variance. He zealously laboured to restore to, and maintain in, union the less garment of the Church, which, at that time, was rent by direful schism. He shone every virtue. He was simple and humble, and treated his and persecutors with meekness and affection, Many were the signs and miracles which God wrought through him, in confirmation of the holiness of his life and preaching. He very frequently restored the sick to health, by placing his hands upon them. He drove out the unclean spirits from the bodies of such as were possessed. He gave hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, sight to the blind. He cured lepers, and raised the dead to life. At length, worn out by old age and bodily infirmities, after travelling through many countries of Europe, and reaping an abundant harvest of souls, this untiring herald of the Gospel terminated his preaching and life at Vannes, in Brittany, in the year of our Lord 1419. He was canonized by Pope Calixtus the Third. in conformationem vitae et praedicationis ejus, multa signa et miracula fecit Nam frequentissime super aagros manus imposuit, et sanitatem adepti sunt : spiritus immundos e corporibus expulit; surdis auditum, mutis ioquelam, caecis visum restituit ; leprosos mundavit, mortuos suscitavit. Senio tandem et morbo confectus infatigabilis Evangelii praeco, plurimis Europae provinciis cum ingenti animarum fructu peragratis, Venetian in Britannia minori, praedicationis et vitae cursum feliciter consummavit, anno salutis millesimo quadringentesimo decimo nono, quern Calixtus Tertius Sanctorum numero adscripsit.

The Dominican Breviary contains the following Responsories and Antiphons in honour of this illustrious Preacher.

I^. The heavenly Father, the ftuler of all nations, sent, when the evening of the world came on, a new Prophet, Vincent, the teacher of Christian people. He announces to men the approach of God's judgment, * which all men shall see with their eyes. f. Fear God : this k his favourite exclamation : the time is at hand for his judgment, * which all men shall see with their eyes.

R7. Summus Parens, ac rector gentium, in vespere labentis eaeculi, novum vatem misit Vincentium,christiani magistrum populi : refert instare Dei judicium. * Quod spectabunt cunctorum oculi. f. Timete Deum, clamat saepius: venit hora judicii ejus. * Quod spectabunt cunctorum oculi.

R?. Treading in the arduous 1^. Christi viam secutusu

334 pasch arduam, a terrenis procul illecebris ; veritatem reddit conspicuam, profligatis error um tenebris : * Oram illuminat occiduam, toto factus in orbe Celebris. y. Cujus doctrina sole gratior, sermo erat flammis ardentior. * Oram illuminat occiduam, toto f actus in orbe Celebris.

I?. Nocte sacris incumbens litteris, contemplatur vigil in studio : mane pulchri ad instar sideris, miro lucet doctrinaa radio: * Morbos omnis vespere generis 8alutari pellens remedio. f. Nulla praeterit hora temporis, quo non recti quid agat operis. * Morbos omnis vespere generis salutari pellens remedio.

19. Verba perennis vitae proferens, animos inflammat adstantium : pectoribus humanis inserens amorem donorum coelestium, de virtutibus alta disserens ; * Fraenare docet omne vitium.

"fr. Ilium avida turba sequitur, dum hoc ore divino loquitur. * Fran are docet omne vitium.

Ant. Qui prophetico fre-

L TIME. path of Christ, and shunning earthly pleasures, he convinced men of the truth, and put to flight the darkness of error. * He gave light to the countries of the West, and his name was proclaimed throughout the whole world.

His doctrines were more welcome than sun-light, his word was more ardent than fire. * He gave light to the countries of the West, and his name was proclaimed throughout the whole world.

I?. He spent the night in the sacred scriptures, wakeful to contemplation and study : in the morn, like to a fair star, he shines with a wondrous ray of wisdom : * At evening, he has a saving remedy for every kind of disease.

)f . There passes not an hour of his day, wherein he does not some good deed. * At evening, he has a remedy for every kind of disease. ty. He inflames the minds of his hearers by his words of eternal life: he inspires the hearts of men with a love of heavenly gifts : sublimely does he treat ofvirtues, * Teaching men how to bridle every vice. f. Eager crowds follow hiin, when he preaches his divine doctrines. * Teaching men how to bridle every vice.

Ant. Vincent, blessed with light prophetic, spoke admi- tus lumine, mira de mundo rably upon the end of the fine docuit ; in occidua world : he set, as the sun, in terras cardine, ut sol Vin- the western world, and, sur- centius occubuit : et septus rounded by a troop of Angels, Angelorum agmine, lucidas he ascended to the bright coeli sedes tenuit. mansions of heaven.

How grand must have been thine eloquence, O Vincent, that could rouse men from their lethargy, and give them to feel all the terrors of the awful Judgment. Our forefathers heard thy preaching, and returned to God, and were pardoned. We, too, were drowsy of spirit when, at the commencement of the holy season of Lent, the Church awakened us to the work of our salvation, by sprinkling our heads with ashes, and pronouncing over us the sentence ot our God, whereby we are condemned to die.

During Lent, we meditated upon our last end ; and the thought of God's judgments has enlightened us. We next saw our Redeemer carrying his Cross ; our hearts were excited to compassion, and we were converted. His Death was our Life, and we have been made partakers of his Resurrection. Pray for us, O Vincent, that we may die no more; so that when we hear the trumpet of the Angel of J udgment, our Emmanuel. We began with fear ; obtain for us, that the hope, which is now in our hearts, may be kept up within us, and be ever justified by our lives.

0 zealous lover of souls ! we put into thy hands the great work of our perseverance. Pray for Spain, the country that gave thee life and faith, thy Religious Profession and thy Priesthood. Pray, too, for France where thou didst preach the Gospel with so much success. Aid her by thy powerful protection, for the trial, through which she is now going, is greater than those she had when thou wast her Apostle.