St Louis Bertrand. St Louis Bertrand, or Luis Bertrán "was born to noble and pious parents at Valencia, Spain, on 1 January 1526. At the age of sixteen, against his father’s wishes, he left home and …More
St Louis Bertrand.
St Louis Bertrand, or Luis Bertrán "was born to noble and pious parents at Valencia, Spain, on 1 January 1526. At the age of sixteen, against his father’s wishes, he left home and made for Santiago; but he was brought back home, and was forbidden to enter the Order of Preachers. He went in secret to the Chapter, where he listened to the speeches. Finally overcoming the objections of his parents, he was allowed to be clothed in the habit of the Order on 26 August 1544. He strove with all his soul to conform to the perfect picture of a Preaching Friar, and came so to encapsulate the ideal of the Order, an example of those things needful for the formation of novices. Combining austerity of life with apostolic zeal for the spread of the faith, he asked in 1562 he asked to be sent to the furthest reaches, even to that part of the Americas now called Columbia. He spent seven years there in strenuous labour on behalf of the native people, many of whom he brought to the light of the Gospel, since by a miracle they heard him speaking in their own tongue. He shared with them his own culture, while defending them against oppressors, strongly opposing the ‘conquistadores-encomenderos’ with the encouragement of Bartolomé de las Casas. He returned to his homeland in 1569, where he devoted himself to apostolic ministry and the renewal of Christian and religious life; he directed himself more and more vigorously to the pursuit of sanctity, and he was renowned for his fear of the Lord. He died at Valencia on 9 October 1581, and was canonised by Pope Clement X on 12 April 1671. In 1936, as the Spanish Civil War raged, his body was burned." This stained glass of the saint commemorates a miracle from his life: when someone tried to assassinate him, he blessed his gun which turned into a Crucifix! Stained glass window from St Vincent Ferrer church in NYC.
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr
St Louis Bertrand, or Luis Bertrán "was born to noble and pious parents at Valencia, Spain, on 1 January 1526. At the age of sixteen, against his father’s wishes, he left home and made for Santiago; but he was brought back home, and was forbidden to enter the Order of Preachers. He went in secret to the Chapter, where he listened to the speeches. Finally overcoming the objections of his parents, he was allowed to be clothed in the habit of the Order on 26 August 1544. He strove with all his soul to conform to the perfect picture of a Preaching Friar, and came so to encapsulate the ideal of the Order, an example of those things needful for the formation of novices. Combining austerity of life with apostolic zeal for the spread of the faith, he asked in 1562 he asked to be sent to the furthest reaches, even to that part of the Americas now called Columbia. He spent seven years there in strenuous labour on behalf of the native people, many of whom he brought to the light of the Gospel, since by a miracle they heard him speaking in their own tongue. He shared with them his own culture, while defending them against oppressors, strongly opposing the ‘conquistadores-encomenderos’ with the encouragement of Bartolomé de las Casas. He returned to his homeland in 1569, where he devoted himself to apostolic ministry and the renewal of Christian and religious life; he directed himself more and more vigorously to the pursuit of sanctity, and he was renowned for his fear of the Lord. He died at Valencia on 9 October 1581, and was canonised by Pope Clement X on 12 April 1671. In 1936, as the Spanish Civil War raged, his body was burned." This stained glass of the saint commemorates a miracle from his life: when someone tried to assassinate him, he blessed his gun which turned into a Crucifix! Stained glass window from St Vincent Ferrer church in NYC.
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr