03/11/2025
Episode 6 St. Vincent Ferrer
The Saint’s Appearance to a Dying Boy in Valencia
In the year 1701, Valencia was in a severe drought. During this time, an eight year old boy named Vincent Villarasa was suffering from fever and was near the point of death. His father, who had a great devotion to our Saint, and mother were not able to witness their son’s passing. They left the room and had the boy’s aunt there at his bedside. At the moment when the aunt thought the child had breathed its last, the boy was suddenly revived and cried out: “Aunt, the Saint!” “Aunt, the Saint!” The parents and other relatives in the adjacent room, in hearing this, rushed into the room. Seeing the boy well, they inquired who the saint was who appeared to him. He answered: “It is a saint clothed in black and white; he holds his hands pointing towards heaven, and bears on his head a bright flame.” “He told me that I am already cured and that it will rain tomorrow.” The next morning the parents went to the Church of St Dominic to offer thanksgiving to St. Vincent for their son’s miraculous healing. That morning a heavy rain started which lasted for three days.
Some of the Saint’s other Appearances
For a period, St. Vincent would frequently appear to the religious of the Dominican Convent at Valencia. Blessed Dominic Anadon said of that time “during the greater part of the night we have St Vincent in the dormitory, on the side of his old cell.” St. Vincent appeared to Blessed Columba of Rieti to assure her to enter the Third Order of St. Dominic. He appeared to Blessed Magdalen of Panatieri to let her know of her approaching death. He appeared to St. Catherine of Ricci to strengthen her for her approaching agony and death. St. Louis Bertrand had been given many favors by St. Vincent; the final was his appearance to St Louis as he was nearing death. Vincent also appeared to the Blessed John Ribera, the Archbishop of Valencia and a contemporary of St. Bertrand, who spent some time conversing with him, though it was only later that he learned it was St. Vincent.
The Miracles of the St Vincent’s Physical Appearance
There were many reports and countless witnesses to the various miraculous appearances which St Vincent Ferrer took on. For instance, very frequently when at the pulpit, people would see angels forming a crown around Vincent’s head. While staying at the Benedictine priory at Josselin in Brittany, the monks at night would frequently peer through the c***ks in the door of the cell in which St Vincent was staying. There they saw our Saint sleeping on the floor, his face illuminated with a light which lit up the entire room, and his body raised from the ground. These monks let the Count de Rohan also witness this, which resulted in the Count becoming a sincerely pious man.
It is well-attested in documents that multitudes of people witnessed Vincent, while in the middle of his preaching, would suddenly assume wings and fly off. He would then return in the same manner to continue his preaching. This is the reason why there are church sanctioned paintings of him with wings.
On one occasion Queen Violante, who had placed herself under Vincent’s direction, went with her court to visit Brother Vincent in his cell at the convent where he was staying, even though the Queen had been expressly forbidden to do so by Vincent. She was hoping to witness the heavenly light which others had seen of our Saint when he was in prayer. On entering Vincent’s room, she saw no one though those accompanying her could see him. She called out to Master Vincent and could hear his reply but could not see him. He ordered her to leave the convent, and he followed her as she obeyed. Our Saint then made himself visible to her as she was departing.
On a later occasion Queen Violante again went to witness what she had been told. This time she contented herself to look at Vincent through the c***k in the door. There she beheld the Saint absorbed in deep prayer, his face shone with rays of light which illuminated the room. The Queen turning to her ladies said: ”Let us go, let us go, this man is far more holy than we think.”
An Archbishop testified that during the last part of his life, the Saint was an old man worn by his penances and labors. However, once he began to preach, his appearance took on that of a young man full of vigor with a powerful and ringing voice.
The Various Appearances of Jesus, Mary, and St Dominic to St Vincent
After the appearance of Jesus, St. Francis and St Dominic to Vincent in 1396, there are many other appearances which we are aware of. For instance, St Dominic appeared to Vincent while he was sleeping in the convent at Cerveva, Spain to provide encouragement for his continued work. The rays of light surrounding St Dominic were so bright that they awoke Vincent and penetrated the cracks of his cell’s door. Their conversation was loud enough that the monks in the adjacent rooms heard the sound of voices during this time of silence. One of the monks on investigating the sound witnessed the light and the voices coming from Vincent’s room. The next morning our Saint could not conceal the event, but then instructed his fellow monks to keep this secret until after his death. Then in 1415 while in Perpignan, Vincent became very ill and refused medical help, placing his confidence in our Lord. At that time Jesus again appeared to him, cured him and gave Vincent additional instructions. There was also a sacred image of Mary at the convent at Valencia which spoke to Vincent. St Louis Bertrand confirmed this by stating that “It spoke not merely twice or three times, but continually, for Mary dealt with Vincent as the tenderest of mothers”.
The Gift of Prophecy
There were countless prophecies by this great Saint. He foretold of various types of events, from deaths, saints to be, wars which would end, and other events. This gift made him sought after by Popes, Kings, and others. As an example, Vincent once said to a novice, Alphonso Borgia, "You will become Pope and will canonize me." And years later that novice, then Pope Callixtus III, did exactly that. Vincent also told St. Bernardino of Siena, when only a youth, that he (Bernardino) would be canonized before himself--and so it happened.
The Gift to Cast out Demons
Another class of miracles of St. Vincent Ferrer both during his life and after his death, was the expulsion of demons, that of either the possessed or obsessed. He had such power over devils that it was often enough for him to touch a possessed person for him to be freed. The Bollandists state that seventy possessed persons were freed by our Saint. There was the testimony given during the process of inquiry that “when the possessed persons were brought into the Saint’s presence, the demon fled before the usual Exorcism prescribed by the Church was recited.” At times, a possessed person would be freed from the devil merely upon going to the same place as where Vincent was or even simply when Vincent's name was pronounced. After the Saint’s death, it was customary to bring persons so afflicted to the tomb of the Saint, where they were set free.
The Gift of Reading Hearts
St Vincent was given the grace to be able to read people’s souls. For example, when hearing confessions, he would recall the sins which the penitents had forgotten. During his sermons, he would sometimes fix his eyes on individuals who he had never before seen, and then begin to talk about specific sins which these individuals had often committed. It was common for those attending his sermons to say: “This man is truly a saint, for he knows the most hidden secrets of our hearts.” There was a person named Gaja who in asking to be admitted to the Saint’s band of followers, was instructed to sell everything and to give it to the poor. The man did sell everything but gave only half to the poor; secretly retaining the balance for himself. When the man came to Vincent to be admitted, the Saint admonished him for having only given half his money away. Gaja fell to Vincent’s feet, asked for forgiveness, gave away the half he had kept, and joined the company of the Saint. Then there was a pilgrim who had been following with Vincent’s group but who doubted the miracles and conversions he witnessed. He watched carefully so that he might be able to disprove the miraculous events. One day Vincent went to this man and exposed to him all of the secret thoughts in his heart. The man confused and repentant, threw himself on his knees seeking Vincent’s pardon. Lastly, there was a man named Don Ferdinand who outwardly appeared to all to be very pious but who interiorly was not. St Vincent took this man aside and said: “Really, if I did not know that you would one day undertake great hardships for my honour, I would chase you from my company, for you are wicked.” Thereafter, Don Ferdinand embraced the most virtuous life and later became the chaplain to the bishop of Telesia.
St. Vincent Taught the Power of the Sign of the Cross
St Vincent’s miracles typically incorporated the Sign of the Cross. He would make the Sign of the Cross on the foreheads of many seeking healing, make the Sign of the Cross over the sick, or make the Sign towards a violent sky. Once when preaching in the court of the Carmelite convent, it began to rain. He said to the impatient crowd “Come my good people! It is only water, not stones; and in any case, God will provide.” Then Vincent made the Sign of the Cross towards the sky and the clouds parted in two, just as one might make a tear in a piece of cloth.
Vincent always instructed his listeners to make The Sign frequently; always before and after meals, or when seeking God’s assistance. He instructed “if you should receive any wound or hurt you should sign it devoutly with the Sign of the Cross”, and to make The Sign clearly and not in a circular motion.
He would always begin his preaching by making this Sign towards the crowds. When asked why, he explained: “I will answer a question which has been put to me: Why, before I begin Mass, do I make a Sign of the Cross in the direction of those who listen to me who are standing on any raised platforms? For thirteen years I have preached in the open and these things have happened to me. In Savoy on Christmas Day, I was preaching in the castle where the count and countess were staying. Right above the great hall were windows and doors, in the middle of the sermon one of the doors fell on my auditors and did no more harm than if it had been a match. In another town, there was a very high balcony which could only be reached by a mere catwalk; the balcony fell harmlessly on the crowd. At Reus near Tarragona a balcony fell without hurting anyone. At Chinchilla we were delivered from a still greater peril. That is why you must not be astonished when you see me make the Sign of the Cross. No danger can lead to harm if that sign is made.” It should be noted here that there are at least a dozen other accounts of platforms collapsing, or balconies falling which resulted in no harm. All those involved in these incidents knew these were miracles of their own.
St. Vincent taught the use Holy Water
In Vincent’s miracles we also see the power of Holy Water. We see how he stopped storms using Holy Water while making the Sign of the Cross. Master Vincent would frequently instruct his listeners to make liberal use of this sacramental while also invoking the name of Jesus. He would instruct farmers to sprinkle Holy Water on their crops to protect against pestilence or unfavorable weather. “You do not realize what potent means the Church puts at your disposal; use holy water with faith and your land will be safe.” Vincent would say.
St. Vincent Taught to Trust in God
In reading about the miracles of Master Vincent, we can be strengthened in both our faith and in our trust in God. We see that all things are possible whether that is restoring dismembered bodies, providing food, or stopping violent storms. Truly, anything is possible for those who believe. We also see the need to make acts of faith, whether that is prayer, using Holy Water, making the Sign of the Cross, or traveling to a church. St. Vincent spoke these words in one of his sermons regarding trust in God: “The next morsel is confidence in God. When the Apostles were in despair because they could not provide food for the multitude, Christ wished to provide it in an unusual way so that we may realize that, however desperate the situation may appear, we must never despair of God’s help but have great confidence, not following the farmers who say: ‘If it does not rain we shall have no grain this year.’ For such have no confidence in God nor a right intention, for God can give not only wheat in the fields, but even in the granaries. The same holds good with regard to wine or anything else. That He does not give it is due to our lack of confidence. . . . Confide therefore in God as your Father, and seek His honor and justice, that is by sorrow for sins and confidence in Him.”
