Raymond was born at
Palma on the island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea. He earned a position
in the king’s court there. One day a sermon inspired him to dedicate his life
to working for the conversion of the Muslims in North Africa. He became a
Secular Franciscan and founded a college where missionaries could learn the
Arabic they would need in the missions. Retiring to solitude, he spent nine
years as a hermit. During that time he wrote on all branches of knowledge, a
work which earned him the title "Enlightened Doctor."
Raymond then made many
trips through Europe to interest popes, kings and princes in establishing
special colleges to prepare future missionaries. He achieved his goal in 1311
when the Council of Vienne ordered the creation of chairs of Hebrew, Arabic and
Chaldean at the universities of Bologna, Oxford, Paris and Salamanca. At the
age of 79, Raymond went to North Africa in 1314 to be a missionary himself. An
angry crowd of Muslims stoned him in the city of Bougie. Genoese merchants took
him back to Mallorca, where he died. Raymond was beatified in 1514.
COMMENT:
Raymond worked most of his life to help spread the gospel. Indifference on the part of some Christian leaders and opposition in North Africa did not turn him from his goal.
Raymond worked most of his life to help spread the gospel. Indifference on the part of some Christian leaders and opposition in North Africa did not turn him from his goal.
Three hundred years
later Raymond’s work began to have an influence in the Americas. When the
Spanish began to spread the gospel in the New World, they set up missionary
colleges to aid the work. Blessed Junipero Serra belonged to such a college.
QUOTE:
Thomas of Celano wrote of St. Francis: "In vain does the wicked man persecute one striving after virtue, for the more he is buffeted, the more strongly will he triumph. As someone says, indignity strengthens a generous spirit" (I Celano, #11).
Thomas of Celano wrote of St. Francis: "In vain does the wicked man persecute one striving after virtue, for the more he is buffeted, the more strongly will he triumph. As someone says, indignity strengthens a generous spirit" (I Celano, #11).
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