Raymond of Pennafort--1175-1275

Raymond was a relative of the King of Aragon, in Spain. He pursued a scholar’s career and became a master of Canon Law at the University of Bologna. His updated collection of Church law remains a foundation of that study. It was at Bologna that he first encountered the Dominicans. Raymond himself entered the Order at the age of forty-seven and many of his students followed him. Raymond was known as a quiet man who spent many hours in prayer and devotion.

Legend has it that once he went with King James to the Island of Majorca to preach about Jesus. The king, ruled by passions, was giving bad example. The saint commanded him to send the woman away. The king said he would, but he did not keep his promise. So Raymond decided to leave. When the king declared he would punish any ship captain who would return him to Barcelona, Raymond put his trust in God, spread his cloak upon the water, tied up one corner of it to a stick for a sail, made the Sign of the Cross, stepped onto the cloak, and sailed along for six hours until he reached port. St. Raymond was one hundred years old at the time of his death. Feast Day: January 7.

The Keys are symbols of his great skill in codifying Church law..