Raymond of Peñafort (1175–1275)

Biography

He had the joy of being surrounded by such holy men as Saint Albert the Great, who was his teacher, and Saint Peter Nolasco who directed his conscience. He was born around the year 1180, in Catalonia. After completing his studies in his town, he went to Barcelona to graduate in Law. At the same time he learned, he taught morals and virtues to others. He went to Bologna to further his studies and dedicated himself fully to the study of the laws in which he would be a great master. Later, the Bishop of Barcelona asked him for help to direct and correct the defects of his diocese. Soon his fame spread as in Bologna. Everyone came to him with their difficulties and his illuminating and charitable action reached everywhere. At 47 years old, one day he said to the Provincial Father: "Father, please give me a good penance for my many sins, especially for those I committed in Bologna because of my pride." And the Provincial Father forced him to write a SUMA on Moral Theology that even today is a marvel of precision and certainty and that so many jurists for centuries took advantage of it. Together with San Pedro Nolasco and King Jaime I, he founded the Order of Mercy to redeem the captives who were so abundant at that time. Each one had a great mission in the birth and development of this Order. Raymundo, despite fleeing from honorary positions, was commissioned by kings and Popes with great missions and embassies and in all of them he emerged successfully and with great fruit. He was elected Superior General of his Order in which he worked so much and so well... He toured several nations and countries to preach, with ardent charity, the faith in Jesus Christ to Jews and Moors... Saint Raymundo was the counselor of thousands of people and a great director of consciences. Already a centenarian, he died on January 6, 1275.