St. Raymond of Peñafort (1175-1275)

The patron of attorneys, Raymond was one of the most influential clerics of his day . . .

St. Raymond of Penafort

Feast Day: January 7
Patron of attorneys

Born into a wealthy family related to the royal family of Aragon in Spain, Raymond was educated at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Barcelona where he later taught philosophy. He left Spain in 1210 to study law at Bologna where he became a doctor of canon and civil law and a successful lawyer in 1216. He occupied a first chair of canon law in the university for three years.

The Bologna city senate hoped to retain him in the city by presenting him with special rewards for his work. He did not remain, however, because Pope Honorius III asked him to return to Spain to tutor King James I of Aragon.

Raymond was attracted to the Dominican Order by the preaching of Blessed Reginald, Prior of the Dominicans in Bologna. He received the habit in the Dominican convent of Barcelona in 1222. Seven years later, he assisted the Cardinal of Sabina in preaching a crusade against the Moors.

Pope Gregory IX gave Raymond the job of ordering and codifying the canon laws of the Church. Completed in 1234, the work remained the most authoritative compilation within the body of canon law until 1917, when a new code was published.

Raymond was elected general of the Dominican order in 1238, and during his tenure published a revised edition of the Dominican constitution. He assisted in founding the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians) for the redemption of captives.

Because he thought it was important to preach to the Jews in Hebrew and Muslims in Arabic, Raymond taught both languages to Hebrew and Arabic missionaries. He also established missionary schools to foster this practice. He lived to be 100 and was canonized in 1601.

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