The feast day of Saint Vincent Ferrer, celebrated yesterday Monday in over 200 municipalities of the Valencian Community, has prompted reflection on the patron saint's figure and its implications in the current political debate. Saint Vincent Ferrer, canonized in 1455, is the patron saint of the Valencian Community and the city of València.
One of the points of contention is language. While the Ministry of Education, managed by the Popular Party, decides to exclude Catalan and Balearic authors from the baccalaureate curriculum, the figure of Saint Vincent Ferrer, who preached in Valencian to connect with the people, raises questions. His language was the vehicular one, learned at home, and not a strategic choice.
“"Speak clearly, so that the people may understand you."
This statement by Saint Vincent Ferrer reinforces the idea of a living and shared language, contrasting with discourses that deny linguistic unity or seek to fragment it. His linguistic reality, being the son of a father from Palamós and a mother from Girona, dismantles many current arguments.
Another problematic aspect is his role as a preacher who promoted the conversion of Jews, which in some cases led to the destruction of synagogues. This historical fact contrasts with the current support of parties like the PP and VOX for the State of Israel. The question is how a historical figure can be uncritically championed without acknowledging their contradictions, especially at a time of humanitarian tragedy in Palestine.
Questions about which aspects of Saint Vincent Ferrer's figure are truly intended to be highlighted remain open. It seems that the selection of elements to emphasize responds to political interests, rather than a respect for complete memory or history. The language Saint Vincent Ferrer spoke, the one he learned at home, is evidence that dismantles many current discourses.
