St. Raymond of Peñafort
Feast day: January 7
Born in Spain, Raymond was already an accomplished academic and preacher when he joined the Dominicans in 1222. He authored for the order the influential manual on canon law for confessors, the Summa de Casibus Poenitentiae. Called to Rome as papal confessor in 1230, he compiled conciliar and papal degrees in a standard work used by canon lawyers called the Decretals of Gregory IX. Returning to Spain in 1236, he devoted himself to converting Muslims and Jews and establishing schools to teach Arabic and Hebrew. He also served as Dominican master general. Pope Clement VIII canonized Raymond in 1601.
Collect
O God, who adorned the Priest Saint Raymond
with the virtue of outstanding mercy and compassion
for sinners and for captives,
grant us, through his intercession,
that, released from slavery to sin,
we may carry out in freedom of spirit
what is pleasing to you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
