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St. Vincent Ferrer: The Angel of the Judgment
Commissioned by Our Lord Himself to preach His Gospel, St. Vincent began at age 50 an apostolate of preaching that would extend to France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and a few other countries as well. Travelling with him were as many as 10,000 people, including at least 50 priests. The throngs that gathered to hear him came from many miles around, such that he was forced to preach in the open--no church being large enough to hold all the people. Impr. 205 pgs, 12 Illus., PB
205 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1875
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 10, 2026
This volume was part of the reading for Father Mark Goring’s, Saint Mark’s School or Reading in the spring of 2026. I enjoyed this volume but found it very repetitive. It was great learning about this incredible saint, and the videos by Father Mark Goring, Father Isaac Longworth, and Sister Elizabeth Marie really add to the experience of reading the book. This time the videos corresponded to a section in the book. But I am getting ahead of myself.
The description of this volume states:
“This TAN Books edition of “St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment” by Rev. Fr. Andrew Pradel O. P., features the complete text of the title, along with a supplemental reading section entitled “A Brief Life of Christ.” We’ve also included unique hand-selected classic artwork for the reader’s enjoyment, exclusive to this eBook edition of “St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment” from TAN Books.
St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment:
Commissioned by Our Lord Himself to preach His Gospel, St. Vincent began at age 50 an apostolate of preaching that would extend to France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and a few other countries as well. Traveling with him were as many as 10,000 people, including at least 50 priests. The throngs that gathered to hear him came from many miles around, such that he was forced to preach in the open--no church being large enough to hold all the people. Imprimatur.
A Brief Life of Christ:
Absolutely excellent for students and for adult review. Capsulizes the main events and sayings of Our Lord. Map of the Holy Land. A chronological outline. Perfect for a refresher.”
The sections and chapters in this volume are:
SECTION ONE
From The Saint’s Birth To His Religious Profession 1350–1368
1. Prodigies which Preceded the Birth of St. Vincent Ferrer—His Baptism—Infancy and Childhood of St. Vincent
2. St. Vincent Ferrer Receives the Habit of the Friar Preachers—His Novitiate and Profession
SECTION TWO
From The Saint’s Religious Profession To His Call To A Miraculous Apostolate 1368–1398
3. Studies of St. Vincent Ferrer—His Profound Learning—His Great Piety during His Course of Studies and Scholastic Labors
4. First Preachings of St. Vincent Ferrer—Continuation of the Saint’s Preaching Until His Definitive Call to Avignon
SECTION THREE
The Miraculous Apostolate Of St. Vincent Ferrer 1398-1419
5. Christ Miraculously Calls the Saint to an Extraordinary Apostolate in the Church—State of Christianity at the Epoch when St. Vincent Received His Divine Mission
6. St. Vincent’s Mode of Life during His Miraculous Apostolate—The Method Employed by the Saint in Preaching
7. The Company which Followed St. Vincent Ferrer in the Course of His Miraculous Apostolate—Extraordinary Fruits Produced by the Saint in Pious Souls during that Period
8. The Universal Conversion which the Miraculous Apostolate of St. Vincent Ferrer Produced in the Church—Its Abundant Fruits among Heretics and Jews
9. The Apostolic Success of St. Vincent Ferrer among the Followers of Mohammed—The Principal Countries and Cities in which the Saint Preached in the Course of His Miraculous Apostolate
10. The Saint’s Last Apostolic Journeys in Brittany—To the Council of Constance—In Normandy—And again in Brittany
SECTION FOUR
The Virtues Of St. Vincent Ferrer
11. The Virtues of St. Vincent Ferrer in Their Relation to the Service of God—The Saint’s Charity toward His Neighbor—His Heroic Devotedness to the Temporal Necessities of His Brethren
12. Incomparable Zeal of St. Vincent Ferrer for the Salvation of Souls—Other Virtues of the Saint
SECTION FIVE
The Marvelous Gifts Which Shone Forth In St. Vincent Ferrer
13. St. Vincent Ferrer Favored with a Multitude of Visions, Revelations, and Ecstasies—The Secrets of Hearts Revealed to the Saint
14. St. Vincent Ferrer Endowed with the Gift of Prophecy—The Grace of Miracles Accorded without Measure to the Saint
SECTION SIX
Death Of St. Vincent Ferrer 1419
15. The Saint Dies at Vannes in Brittany—His Burial—Canonization—His Relics
16. Devotion Offered to St. Vincent Ferrer by the People and by Holy Personages—Extraordinary Favors with which the Saint Rewarded the Devotion of His Clients
Notes
A Collection of Classic Artwork
A Brief Life of Christ
Introductory
The Setting
Birth of Jesus
Childhood at Nazareth
John The Bapist
Jesus Begins His Ministry
Journey To Galilee
The Kingdom and the Apostles
Manifestations of Divine Power
Speaking in Parables
Increasing Popularity
Death of John the Baptist
Miracles of the Loaves
The Bread of Life
Peter the Rock
Training of the Twelve
Visit to Jerusalem
Clash with the Pharisees
Judean Ministry
The Supreme Declaration
Raising of Lazarus
Last Missionary Days
Banquet at Bethany
Palm Sunday
Second Cleansing of the Temple
Day of Questions
Judas the Betrayer
The Last Supper
Arrest and Trial
Death on Calvary
Risen and Living Still
The eBook edition also includes, as noted above, the complete text of A Collection of Classic Artwork and A Brief Life of Christ by Fr. Leslie Rumble.
We are also informed that it has both:
Imprimatur: A. de Pous
Vicar General, Toulouse
October 9, 1863
Nihil Obstat: Fr. Raymond Palmer, Ord. Praed.
Censor Deputatus
Imprimatur:
Henry Edward
Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster
The volume was originally published in 1875, it was retype set with minor editing by Tan books in the year 2000. I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume, some of them are:
“May our publication be serviceable to you, dear reader! Should it produce any good in you, be pleased, in return, to remember us in your prayers to the Saint whom we shall have venerated together.”
“Many attempted to imitate his virtues and to walk in his footsteps, whom he lovingly directed by his good counsels.”
“Three years were devoted by the Saint to the exclusive study of Scripture, and one more year to teaching physics in the same Convent of Barcelona.”
“Besides the ascetic exercises to which he applied himself in his cell, he devoted a considerable portion of the night to prayer in the church.”
“Sin had acquired so strong a hold upon the world, the fervor of the good had become so relaxed and the crimes of the wicked had risen to such an excess, that God’s patient forbearance with His creatures was nearly worn out.”
“But to resume the thread of our narrative, St. Vincent was truly another St. Paul, sent by God to bring back to the Faith of Christ a multitude of Jews and Mohammedans, to convert innumerable sinners and to harmonize the faithful of every nation and condition of life in the most perfect bonds of Christian fellowship. We are thus able to see at a glance the general effect of the miraculous apostolate which he received from Christ Himself at Avignon. The Saint was not afraid to affirm it with his own lips. In one of his sermons which he preached in Castile, in the year 1411, we read thus: “The End of the World cannot be far distant, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Has not our Lord Himself said that the bearing of the fig-tree foreshadows the coming summer? Behold, then, the fig-tree of the Christian people. Each day records its reconciliations, and we witness souls forgetting and forgiving the greatest injuries. The delicate, the sensual and the vicious do penance. Obstinate sinners are converted and frequently approach the Sacraments. Nor is the Jewish fig-tree any longer barren, for we see it daily producing its abundant and choicest fruits in every city in Spain.” He might have added heretics and Mussulmen likewise. Truly, then, St. Vincent exercised in the Church an apostolate such as never was witnessed since the establishment of the Gospel. 1 St. Vincent having evangelized Avignon and the neighboring towns, set out on foot for Spain, preaching in various places where he was obliged to stay. It was at Graus, in Catalonia, that he instituted the procession of Disciplinants and laid the foundation of that marvelous company of pious souls who accompanied him in his apostolic journeyings. Here also he left behind him, as a souvenir, a crucifix which the inhabitants begged of him, and which became the instrument of many miracles.”
“He then exercised the sacred ministry in another way—he instructed the children in Christian doctrine, which, in the latter days of his life, was his most cherished occupation.”
“The Saint’s hope was even more lively. He made daily use of the means of salvation instituted by Divine Providence. He made his Confession every day and received the Sacrament of the Eucharist; he faithfully accomplished the duties of his calling, and he did not resist the inspirations of grace.”
This was a harder volume to read than many done in the school of reading. It part its age, in part being in translation, and for me in part because it was so repetitive. Andy maybe because of my dyslexia those issues were amplified. I am thankful I worked through it to the end, it was worth it. And to be honest if it had not been for the videos would like have ended up on me ‘did not finish’ pile. It was a good read with Father Mark Goring’s School of reading.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
The description of this volume states:
“This TAN Books edition of “St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment” by Rev. Fr. Andrew Pradel O. P., features the complete text of the title, along with a supplemental reading section entitled “A Brief Life of Christ.” We’ve also included unique hand-selected classic artwork for the reader’s enjoyment, exclusive to this eBook edition of “St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment” from TAN Books.
St. Vincent Ferrer: Angel of the Judgment:
Commissioned by Our Lord Himself to preach His Gospel, St. Vincent began at age 50 an apostolate of preaching that would extend to France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and a few other countries as well. Traveling with him were as many as 10,000 people, including at least 50 priests. The throngs that gathered to hear him came from many miles around, such that he was forced to preach in the open--no church being large enough to hold all the people. Imprimatur.
A Brief Life of Christ:
Absolutely excellent for students and for adult review. Capsulizes the main events and sayings of Our Lord. Map of the Holy Land. A chronological outline. Perfect for a refresher.”
The sections and chapters in this volume are:
SECTION ONE
From The Saint’s Birth To His Religious Profession 1350–1368
1. Prodigies which Preceded the Birth of St. Vincent Ferrer—His Baptism—Infancy and Childhood of St. Vincent
2. St. Vincent Ferrer Receives the Habit of the Friar Preachers—His Novitiate and Profession
SECTION TWO
From The Saint’s Religious Profession To His Call To A Miraculous Apostolate 1368–1398
3. Studies of St. Vincent Ferrer—His Profound Learning—His Great Piety during His Course of Studies and Scholastic Labors
4. First Preachings of St. Vincent Ferrer—Continuation of the Saint’s Preaching Until His Definitive Call to Avignon
SECTION THREE
The Miraculous Apostolate Of St. Vincent Ferrer 1398-1419
5. Christ Miraculously Calls the Saint to an Extraordinary Apostolate in the Church—State of Christianity at the Epoch when St. Vincent Received His Divine Mission
6. St. Vincent’s Mode of Life during His Miraculous Apostolate—The Method Employed by the Saint in Preaching
7. The Company which Followed St. Vincent Ferrer in the Course of His Miraculous Apostolate—Extraordinary Fruits Produced by the Saint in Pious Souls during that Period
8. The Universal Conversion which the Miraculous Apostolate of St. Vincent Ferrer Produced in the Church—Its Abundant Fruits among Heretics and Jews
9. The Apostolic Success of St. Vincent Ferrer among the Followers of Mohammed—The Principal Countries and Cities in which the Saint Preached in the Course of His Miraculous Apostolate
10. The Saint’s Last Apostolic Journeys in Brittany—To the Council of Constance—In Normandy—And again in Brittany
SECTION FOUR
The Virtues Of St. Vincent Ferrer
11. The Virtues of St. Vincent Ferrer in Their Relation to the Service of God—The Saint’s Charity toward His Neighbor—His Heroic Devotedness to the Temporal Necessities of His Brethren
12. Incomparable Zeal of St. Vincent Ferrer for the Salvation of Souls—Other Virtues of the Saint
SECTION FIVE
The Marvelous Gifts Which Shone Forth In St. Vincent Ferrer
13. St. Vincent Ferrer Favored with a Multitude of Visions, Revelations, and Ecstasies—The Secrets of Hearts Revealed to the Saint
14. St. Vincent Ferrer Endowed with the Gift of Prophecy—The Grace of Miracles Accorded without Measure to the Saint
SECTION SIX
Death Of St. Vincent Ferrer 1419
15. The Saint Dies at Vannes in Brittany—His Burial—Canonization—His Relics
16. Devotion Offered to St. Vincent Ferrer by the People and by Holy Personages—Extraordinary Favors with which the Saint Rewarded the Devotion of His Clients
Notes
A Collection of Classic Artwork
A Brief Life of Christ
Introductory
The Setting
Birth of Jesus
Childhood at Nazareth
John The Bapist
Jesus Begins His Ministry
Journey To Galilee
The Kingdom and the Apostles
Manifestations of Divine Power
Speaking in Parables
Increasing Popularity
Death of John the Baptist
Miracles of the Loaves
The Bread of Life
Peter the Rock
Training of the Twelve
Visit to Jerusalem
Clash with the Pharisees
Judean Ministry
The Supreme Declaration
Raising of Lazarus
Last Missionary Days
Banquet at Bethany
Palm Sunday
Second Cleansing of the Temple
Day of Questions
Judas the Betrayer
The Last Supper
Arrest and Trial
Death on Calvary
Risen and Living Still
The eBook edition also includes, as noted above, the complete text of A Collection of Classic Artwork and A Brief Life of Christ by Fr. Leslie Rumble.
We are also informed that it has both:
Imprimatur: A. de Pous
Vicar General, Toulouse
October 9, 1863
Nihil Obstat: Fr. Raymond Palmer, Ord. Praed.
Censor Deputatus
Imprimatur:
Henry Edward
Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster
The volume was originally published in 1875, it was retype set with minor editing by Tan books in the year 2000. I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume, some of them are:
“May our publication be serviceable to you, dear reader! Should it produce any good in you, be pleased, in return, to remember us in your prayers to the Saint whom we shall have venerated together.”
“Many attempted to imitate his virtues and to walk in his footsteps, whom he lovingly directed by his good counsels.”
“Three years were devoted by the Saint to the exclusive study of Scripture, and one more year to teaching physics in the same Convent of Barcelona.”
“Besides the ascetic exercises to which he applied himself in his cell, he devoted a considerable portion of the night to prayer in the church.”
“Sin had acquired so strong a hold upon the world, the fervor of the good had become so relaxed and the crimes of the wicked had risen to such an excess, that God’s patient forbearance with His creatures was nearly worn out.”
“But to resume the thread of our narrative, St. Vincent was truly another St. Paul, sent by God to bring back to the Faith of Christ a multitude of Jews and Mohammedans, to convert innumerable sinners and to harmonize the faithful of every nation and condition of life in the most perfect bonds of Christian fellowship. We are thus able to see at a glance the general effect of the miraculous apostolate which he received from Christ Himself at Avignon. The Saint was not afraid to affirm it with his own lips. In one of his sermons which he preached in Castile, in the year 1411, we read thus: “The End of the World cannot be far distant, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Has not our Lord Himself said that the bearing of the fig-tree foreshadows the coming summer? Behold, then, the fig-tree of the Christian people. Each day records its reconciliations, and we witness souls forgetting and forgiving the greatest injuries. The delicate, the sensual and the vicious do penance. Obstinate sinners are converted and frequently approach the Sacraments. Nor is the Jewish fig-tree any longer barren, for we see it daily producing its abundant and choicest fruits in every city in Spain.” He might have added heretics and Mussulmen likewise. Truly, then, St. Vincent exercised in the Church an apostolate such as never was witnessed since the establishment of the Gospel. 1 St. Vincent having evangelized Avignon and the neighboring towns, set out on foot for Spain, preaching in various places where he was obliged to stay. It was at Graus, in Catalonia, that he instituted the procession of Disciplinants and laid the foundation of that marvelous company of pious souls who accompanied him in his apostolic journeyings. Here also he left behind him, as a souvenir, a crucifix which the inhabitants begged of him, and which became the instrument of many miracles.”
“He then exercised the sacred ministry in another way—he instructed the children in Christian doctrine, which, in the latter days of his life, was his most cherished occupation.”
“The Saint’s hope was even more lively. He made daily use of the means of salvation instituted by Divine Providence. He made his Confession every day and received the Sacrament of the Eucharist; he faithfully accomplished the duties of his calling, and he did not resist the inspirations of grace.”
This was a harder volume to read than many done in the school of reading. It part its age, in part being in translation, and for me in part because it was so repetitive. Andy maybe because of my dyslexia those issues were amplified. I am thankful I worked through it to the end, it was worth it. And to be honest if it had not been for the videos would like have ended up on me ‘did not finish’ pile. It was a good read with Father Mark Goring’s School of reading.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
May 25, 2021
Very descriptive of his holy life, recommend for anyone wanting to learn more about this saint. The book jumps around chronologically with the events of his life ,which can at times be confusing.
April 19, 2022
Written in the 1860s, this is a survey of the cities St. Vincent Ferrer traveled and the miracles he performed. Not a history, not even an exhaustive listing; it gives the reader a taste for St. Vincent Ferrer's life and works, but entices reader to learn more about this great man, his preaching quality and those he raised from the dead.
St. Vincent Ferrer used the Bible as a pillow, slept on the floor and for no longer than 5 hours a night.
St. Vincent Ferrer used the Bible as a pillow, slept on the floor and for no longer than 5 hours a night.
August 14, 2017
I was named after Saint Vincent Ferrer, and it has always been a great point of pride with me. I’m very proud of the achievements listed off by this saint, and wouldn’t avoid bragging about him to other people, partly because I have always believed Saint Vincent to be incredibly underrated given his level of holiness and how many souls he brought to the Faith. I’m very appreciative of the author’s enumeration of all of Saint Vincent’s great deeds.
With that being said, this book was difficult to get through. The author constantly overhwhelms you with his glorification of the saint, to the point where it makes for a very tedious read after a while. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, here is a passage where even the saint’s physical features are glorified:
This prince of preachers was endowed with every oratorical quality capable of impressing the multitude. A pleasing exterior also weighed in his favor. He was of middle stature, well-proportioned, easy and dignified in manner and of handsome countenance… his forehead was broad, majestic, and calm; his large dark eyes shown of intelligence and modesty… His appearance alone, when in the pulpit, suffice to inspire all hearts with compunction, for his face was resplendent with sanctity and the virtues which accompanied it.
His expressive gestures were full of grace and energy, and they corresponded naturally with his words. His voice, which was as sonorous as a silver trumpet, adapted itself with marvelous effect to the necessity of the moment. When he declaimed against vice, his voice became loud and piercing and struck terror into the hearts of his hearers. When he exhorted them to a love of God… it immediately assumed a sympathetic accent, a tender sweetness, which melted them to tears.
I have not encountered this type of approach before. For me, it was distracting, and it hurt the author’s credibility in my eyes. We all know St. Vincent Ferrer was amazing, and indeed I expect an account of him to be amazing. But saying things like this person’s face exudes intelligence, modesty, calmness, majesty, sanctity, and virtue… it’s just a bit much.
The biggest detriment of this style is that it makes Saint Vincent hard to relate to. He is portrayed as being sublimely perfect in every way. He even did miracles from the womb. Other biographies of saints I enjoyed very much on a human level. There were some frailties, suffering, or weakness that hindered them and was great cause for mortification. Or there were sins that they labored over and atoned for. And in a way that inspired you because you felt that greatness is in fact possible!
One of the accounts from this book that is absolutely staggering is that St. Vincent baptized and converted over 200,000 Jews and 80,000 Muslims. Unfortunately, because of the style, it causes you to question some of these figures. Indeed, Catholic Encyclopedia is in conflict with it, stating that the number is 25,000 Jews converted via preaching, citing Ferrer’s first biographer. 25,000 is still an incredible number, but it’s nowhere near 200,000.
If you like hagiographies---biographies that idealize their subjects---then you will enjoy this book. This was my first taste of a hagiography and from this I learned it’s not really my thing.
With that being said, this book was difficult to get through. The author constantly overhwhelms you with his glorification of the saint, to the point where it makes for a very tedious read after a while. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, here is a passage where even the saint’s physical features are glorified:
This prince of preachers was endowed with every oratorical quality capable of impressing the multitude. A pleasing exterior also weighed in his favor. He was of middle stature, well-proportioned, easy and dignified in manner and of handsome countenance… his forehead was broad, majestic, and calm; his large dark eyes shown of intelligence and modesty… His appearance alone, when in the pulpit, suffice to inspire all hearts with compunction, for his face was resplendent with sanctity and the virtues which accompanied it.
His expressive gestures were full of grace and energy, and they corresponded naturally with his words. His voice, which was as sonorous as a silver trumpet, adapted itself with marvelous effect to the necessity of the moment. When he declaimed against vice, his voice became loud and piercing and struck terror into the hearts of his hearers. When he exhorted them to a love of God… it immediately assumed a sympathetic accent, a tender sweetness, which melted them to tears.
I have not encountered this type of approach before. For me, it was distracting, and it hurt the author’s credibility in my eyes. We all know St. Vincent Ferrer was amazing, and indeed I expect an account of him to be amazing. But saying things like this person’s face exudes intelligence, modesty, calmness, majesty, sanctity, and virtue… it’s just a bit much.
The biggest detriment of this style is that it makes Saint Vincent hard to relate to. He is portrayed as being sublimely perfect in every way. He even did miracles from the womb. Other biographies of saints I enjoyed very much on a human level. There were some frailties, suffering, or weakness that hindered them and was great cause for mortification. Or there were sins that they labored over and atoned for. And in a way that inspired you because you felt that greatness is in fact possible!
One of the accounts from this book that is absolutely staggering is that St. Vincent baptized and converted over 200,000 Jews and 80,000 Muslims. Unfortunately, because of the style, it causes you to question some of these figures. Indeed, Catholic Encyclopedia is in conflict with it, stating that the number is 25,000 Jews converted via preaching, citing Ferrer’s first biographer. 25,000 is still an incredible number, but it’s nowhere near 200,000.
If you like hagiographies---biographies that idealize their subjects---then you will enjoy this book. This was my first taste of a hagiography and from this I learned it’s not really my thing.
May 19, 2015
This is a great book, about an extraordinary man who brought multitudes back to taking God seriously in their lives. In it are many stories about those conversions. However the reason it should be read by anyone called to preach the Gospel is that it contains precious information about how he conducted his successful parish missions and the dedication he had to fulfilling the mission God gave him. 'He usually chose for his subject the Last Judgment, and the practical conclusions which he drew therefrom were repentance, the reformation of conduct and a new life. One point on which he strongly insisted was the love of enemies.'
December 5, 2019
92/100 (= 5.5/6) ≈ 5 Stars
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Incredible! What a saint! Perhaps you have to go back all the way to the Apostles to find a similar saint! Really makes you want to read more though! In fact, this small paperback from TAN books is just a third of the original book (the second part was some of his spiritual doctrine, and the third part some practical devotions). Definitely worth reading more about him!!
-----------------------------------------
Incredible! What a saint! Perhaps you have to go back all the way to the Apostles to find a similar saint! Really makes you want to read more though! In fact, this small paperback from TAN books is just a third of the original book (the second part was some of his spiritual doctrine, and the third part some practical devotions). Definitely worth reading more about him!!
April 16, 2015
Good book. Great Saint that people should know about. Many miracles including resuscitations from the dead.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews