Homily: January 7 - St. Raymond of Penafort

Today’s saint was a Dominican priest who lived about 800 years ago.  He was born into the Spanish nobility and had an excellent education.  By age 20 he was teaching philosophy; by the age of 30 he had doctorates in both civil and church law. In his early 40 he joined the Dominicans about a year after the death of their founder, St. Dominic.  About a decade later, he was summoned to Rome by Pope Gregory the IX to serve as the Pope’s personal confessor.  While in Rome, the Pope gave him the task of bringing together for the first time, in one volume, all of the laws and decrees of the popes and church council.  For this, St. Raymond is known as the Father and Patron saint of Canon Law.

At age 60, Raymond was appointed an Archbishop, though he became sick and resigned in hopes of getting some peace.  But, peace in retirement Raymond would not receive.  At age 62, he was elected as head of the Dominicans.  Raymond worked hard, visited on foot all the Dominicans, and reorganized their constitutions.

In his last 35 years, (by the way, did I mention St. Raymond lived to be 100?), he promoted the study of Hebrew and Arabic, so that the Dominicans in Spain could preach the Gospel to Jews and Muslims.  He encouraged St. Thomas Aquinas, one of his contemporaries, to write an explanation of the faith to help missionaries in their work.

The Opening Prayer mentioned St. Raymond’s mercy and compassion for sinners and for captives.  During the 13^th Century, Spain was partially controlled by the Muslims who enslaved many Christians, not only in Spain but across the Mediterranean in North Africa.  He set up an organization to liberate Christian slaves.

Also, in his work in moral theology, he wrote a book for confessors helping to set sinners free from the slavery of sin through the Sacrament of Penance.

St. Raymond poured out the 100 years of his life his in service to the Church, another hero of the faith and shining example on how we ought to live—may we all be so generous for the glory of God and salvation of souls.