St. Louis Bertrand: Man of Miracles
By Jean M. Heimann Today, October 9, we celebrate the feast of St. Louis Bertrand (1526-1581), who is known as the Apostle of the Americas and the patron of Novice Masters. Louis Bertrand was born on January 1, 1526, at Valencia, Spain, to devout parents. He was a relative of St. Vincent Ferrer and was even baptized at the same baptismal font as this great saint. As a youth, he was very holy and prayed the Office of Our Lady daily. He attended different churches in order to receive the Eucharist frequently. He also visited the sick and cared for the sick in hospitals. At age nineteen, Louis entered the Dominican Order and was ordained to the priesthood two years later. At twenty-three, he was selected to be Master of Novices, a post he held for thirty years. He led the novices in a strict regimen so that they might become faithful and zealous Dominican priests, striving for the salvation of souls. While he was firm with those whom he directed, he was also ver...