Walking with the Saints l Feast Day of St. Raymund of Penyafort, Patron Saint of Canonists and Lawyers l January 6

Walking with the Saints l Feast Day of St. Raymund of Penyafort, Patron Saint of Canonists and Lawyers l January 6 In today’s modern world, there is a joke saying that lawyers do not go to heaven. But the truth is, there are several saints who studied law and used their knowledge in working for the Church, helping people know God and give justice to their fellowmen. Our saint for today, St. Raymund of Penyafort, was a canon and civil lawyer from Spain, and a relative of the King of Aragon. He was born in a castle in Penyafort, Barcelona in 1175. Brought up as a devout Catholic, he had a tender love and devotion to the Virgin Mother of God. He was a model of humility, patience and fervor. He studied law and at age 20, was a famous teacher and lawyer. But he gave up his promising career and entered the Dominican Order in 1222 at the age of forty-seven. Even as a religious he was very prayerful, did much penance, was so humble and kind that he won many pagans and sinners to God. Due to Raymund’s reputation in the juridical sciences, Gregory IX called him to Rome in 1230 to help in collecting, codifying and arranging the canon law. This collection called “Decretals of Gregory IX” became the standard for the Church for 700 years until it was finally codified in 1917 as the Code of Canon Law. Raymund continued to write and he produced books on confession and marriage. Because of his knowledge about confesion and penitential discipline, he became the Pope’s confessor. Raymund was appointed as the Bishop of Tarragona, Aragon, but being so detached from worldly honors, he was so overwhelmed by his post that he got sick and resigned his post after two years. Upon returning, he was made the Third General of his Order. Concerned about the situation of the Moors, he founded together with St. Peter Nolasco and the King of Aragon the Institute of Our Lady of Ransom to help the persecuted Moors and convert them to Christianity. He also encouraged St. Thomas Aquinas to write his book entitled “Against the Gentiles.” He instituted the teaching of Arabic and Hebrew to help the Jews and Muslims in their study about Christianity. Raymund was commissioned to preach against the holy war of the Mohammedans by the Cardinal Legate of Pope Gregory IX. With so much prudence, zeal and charity, the Christians were able to overthrow them in Spain. Then, he led the Christians to make penance as they had been enslaved body and soul to follow Mohammedan practices. Raymund accomplished many other works but our limited space cannot afford to mention them all. Once, he went with King James of Aragon to preach in Majorca. The King had a strong passion for women so, women came often to their lodging. Raymund asked the king to send away those women since they were obstacles to their mission. The king promised and promised but did not honor his words. Raymund then decided to leave the island on his own. Angered by this decision, the King warned everyone that any boat or anyone who would bring Raymund back to Barcelona would be punished. But Raymund was so decided that he went to the sea by himself, spread his cloak upon the water, tied up a corner of the cloak to a stick as sail, made the Sign of the Cross and stepped on the cloak and sailed safely for six long hours, the winds bringing him back to Barcelona. The miracle converted the King and he repented of his misbehaviors and became a true follower of Raymund. Raymund died at the age of 100 in Barcelona on January 6, 1275. He was buried in the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia in Barcelona, and was canonized by Pope Clement VIII in 1601. Raymund is widely known for his learning and holiness. H He is the patron of canonists and lawyers and his feast day is celebrated on January 6. Virtue: humility, piety, great faith, honesty, courage, Prayer: “St. Raymund, pray for civil lawyers that they may follow their conscience in handling legal issues.”