St. Raymond of Penyafort
Feast 01-07 · Canonized 1601
Patron of
About
Raymond was born around 1175 near Barcelona, Spain, into a noble family. He taught philosophy and canon law at Barcelona and Bologna, then joined the Dominican Order in 1222.
Pope Gregory IX called him to Rome, where he compiled the Decretals, a collection of canon law that remained a standard reference for centuries. He also helped found the Mercedarian Order for the ransom of Christian captives.
He returned to Spain and served as Master General of the Dominicans, resigning after two years to return to pastoral work. He died in 1275 at nearly one hundred years of age and was canonized in 1601. He is the patron saint of canon lawyers and lawyers.
Suggested prayer
O God, who gave Raymond of Penyafort wisdom to compile the laws of Your Church and the faith to spread his cloak upon the sea, grant through his intercession that lawyers may serve truth with mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.