This saint converted hardened sinners, Jews, Muslims and Schismatics

                           April 5 -- St. Vincent Ferrer

The father of St. Vincent Ferrer received the news of the vocation of his son in a dream before his birth on January 23, 1357.  Eighteen years later, St. Vincent entered the Dominican Order and became one of the greatest preachers of all time. 

He preached in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and England, converting hardened sinners, Jews, Muslims, and Schismatics.

In 1414, the Council of Constance was convened to resolve a crisis whereby there were three persons claiming to be the Pope.   This crisis generated much great chaos and confusion causing a moral decline in both clergy and faithful.

Divine Providence raised St. Vincent to stem the tide of this incredible swell of moral decadence.  He, as the Preacher of Preachers, did, in fact, convert numerous sinners but this was not enough to change the path of Christendom from its revolutionary descent. St. Vincent prophesied the coming chastisements which were to come because man did not reject totally the evil that marked the fall of the Middle Ages.

Today we are in the last stages of this decline. Therefore let us ask St. Vincent to give us the graces that were refused in his day so that we can help to rebuild our society to a point greater than Christendom of his day.

Saint Vincent Ferrer and the Fatima Message

The Fatima message opens our eyes to the gravity of today’s moral corruption, explains it in light of God’s plans, and shows what is necessary to do to prevent the chastisement. Our Lady taught us about our times and our future.

The Roman Empire of the West closed with the catastrophe explained and analyzed by the genius of a great doctor, St. Augustine. The great prophet, St. Vincent Ferrer, foresaw the decadence of the Middle ages.

The French Revolution was foreseen by another great prophet, St. Louis de Montfort.

But our times, which seem about to close with a new catastrophe, have an even greater privilege: Our Lady herself came to speak to us.

St. Augustine could only explain for posterity what caused the tragedy he witnessed. St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Louis de Montfort labored in vain to turn aside the tempests – men would not listen to them.

Our Lady explained the reasons for today’s moral crisis and pointed out a remedy, predicting catastrophes if she were not heeded.

From every viewpoint, by the nature of their content as well as the dignity of the Messenger who brought them, the revelations of Fatima surpass all times when Providence has revealed to man the imminence of the great tempests of history.

The points of the Fatima revelation that concern this dark approaching storm constitute the principal element of the message.

The rest, no matter how important it may be, is a mere complement. Of the six Fatima apparitions, there is not one in which the sins of humanity are not mentioned. They have become an unbearable weight in the scale of divine justice and are the ultimate cause of contemporary misery and disorder. Sins call down the just wrath of God, and because of them the most terrible chastisements threaten humanity.

Men must convert if punishment is to be averted, and for men to convert the good must pray ardently for sinners and offer God many expiatory sacrifices.

Many prefer not to see this unpleasant reality.

The bottom-line: is it not better to know about the tender revelations of Our Lady’s prophetic sadness than to bear the bitter days to come if we do not amend?

If these days come, it is logical that there will be at least a special mercy for those who, in their personal lives, have taken Mary’s messages seriously.

By promoting the Fatima message we can win more souls for God, help people practice the requests of Our Lady of Fatima, stir them to a sincere change of life, and to pray and make sacrifices for the souls of poor sinners.