Raymond of Capua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedRaymond of Capua O.P. |
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| Master General of the Order of Preachers | |
| Born | ca. 1303 Capua, Kingdom of Naples |
| Died | 5 October 1399 (aged 96) Nuremberg, Holy Roman Empire |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 15 May 1899, Saint Peter's Basilica, Kingdom of Italy by Pope Leo XIII |
| Major shrine | Church of San Domenico Maggiore, Naples, Italy |
| Feast | 5 October |
| Attributes | Dominican habit |
Raymond of Capua (born around 1303, died October 5, 1399) was an important leader in the Dominican Order. He was the head of the Dominicans, called the Master General, from 1380 until he died. Raymond helped bring new life and energy back to the Dominican Order. Because of his great work, some people even called him the "second founder" of the Order.
Raymond also worked to bring the papacy (the office of the Pope) back to Rome. He tried to help solve the Western schism, a time when there were two Popes. A famous writer and mystic named Catherine of Siena chose Raymond as her spiritual director. She admired his strong dedication to the Church. The Catholic Church declared him "Blessed" in 1899.
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Early Life and Studies
Raymond was born "Raymond della Vigna" around 1330 in Capua, which was then part of the Kingdom of Naples. His family was well-known in the city. In 1350, while studying law at the University of Bologna, he joined the Dominican Order. For the next 25 years, he worked as a spiritual guide or a teacher for different Dominican communities.
Working with Saint Catherine of Siena
Raymond was first sent to Montepulciano. There, he served as a chaplain for a monastery of Dominican nuns. He wrote the first biography of their respected former leader, Agnes of Montepulciano. Later, he moved to Rome to be the prior (leader) of the friars at Santa Maria sopra Minerva.
After that, he was sent to Siena. There, the Master General of the Dominicans asked him to be the spiritual director and confessor for Catherine of Siena. Catherine was a very influential member of the Third Order of St. Dominic.
Raymond spent six years guiding Catherine and hearing her confessions. Over time, he grew to trust her holiness and wisdom. This trust became even stronger in 1374. Raymond was helping people who had the plague and caught the disease himself. He was close to death, but Catherine stayed by his side until he got better. Raymond believed her prayers saved his life.
Working for the Church
By 1374, Pope Gregory XI noticed Raymond because of his connection to Catherine. The Pope was living in Avignon at the time. Raymond was also known for his new ideas on important issues. These included the Crusades in the Holy Land, bringing the papacy back to Rome, and making the Church better.
Raymond was good at handling both spiritual matters and practical politics. For four years, Raymond traveled with Catherine. He even went to Avignon to help Catherine communicate with the Pope. Catherine believed the Pope was serious about a Crusade. She even wrote a letter to the English pirate, John Hawkwood, asking him to fight for God instead.
Pope Gregory XI finally returned to Rome in 1377 but died in 1378. After his death, French cardinals refused to accept the new Pope, Pope Urban VI. This led to the Western schism, which lasted 39 years. During this time, there was one Pope in Rome and another in Avignon. This split caused great division across Europe. Like Catherine, Raymond supported the Pope in Rome and believed he was the rightful leader.
In 1379, Pope Urban VI ordered an examination of Raymond. After this, he was promoted to the rank of Master of Theology.
Master General of the Dominicans
In 1380, Catherine of Siena died. The same year, Raymond was chosen to be the Master General of the Dominican Order. He then divided his time between Italy and Germany. Following Catherine's ideas for reform, he brought new spiritual energy to the Order. Raymond encouraged a new way of living out their religious vows, inspired by the Franciscan example. Because of this work, he is known as the second founder of the Order of Preachers.
Veneration
Raymond was first buried in Nuremberg, where he died. Later, his body was moved to Naples, to the Church of San Domenico Maggiore. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII declared him "Blessed" on the 500th anniversary of his death.
Images for kids
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A painting of Raymond of Capua
