Called
“the second founder of the Dominicans”, Raymond della Vigna was born in
Capua of a prominent family in the kingdom of Naples. He entered the
Dominican Order when attending the university in Bologna and went on to
fill several posts, including prior in Rome and lector in Florence and
Siena.
While
in the latter city, he met St. Catherine of Siena and was appointed her
confessor. At first he accepted the assignment without enthusiasm as he
had doubts about the young mystic. But after a stunning proof of her
authenticity, which he relates in his biography of her, he guided her
fervently, becoming her closest advisor.
Through the years he was
involved in most of Catherine’s undertakings, including a call for a
Crusade, the reconciliation of Florence with the papacy, and the plea to
Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from Avignon in France.
During a plague that struck Siena, Raymond fell ill while aiding the victims and was nursed back to health by St. Catherine.
When
the great schism started in 1378 both saints supported Urban VI against
the anti-pope Clement VII. After Catherine’s death in 1380, Raymond
continued to strive for a settlement of the great crisis and was elected
Master General of the Dominicans.
At the helm of the Order until
his death in Nuremberg, he worked for the reform of the houses, and the
strict observance of the Dominican Rule. Originally buried in
Nuremberg, his body was later transferred to the Church of San Domenico
Maggiore in Naples. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1899, the fifth
centenary of his death.
Monday, October 5, 2020
Bl. Raymond of Capua
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment