St. Vincent Ferrer and Anti-Pope Benedict XIII

In 1405, Benedict XIII visited the Genoa and wished that his former confessor(St. Vincent) should be in his company. Vincent made it his primary object during his sojourn there to use strong arguments with Benedict as to the desirability of a resignation. He did not fear to tell his former penitent that, “at the tribunal of Jesus Christ, all the evils of the Church would be laid to the charge of him who believed himself to be its head, if he did not cause those evils to cease in renouncing the papacy, whatever his rights to it might be, because the extinction of the schism depended upon his renunciation. The flock is not for the pastor, but the pastor is for the flock. If he has the charity of Jesus Christ, he ought to be ready to give his life for his sheep…what will his punishment be if, in order to keep a phantom of greatness for himself, he himself is the cause or means of their perdition.” (An extract from “Three Catholic Reformers” by Mary H. Allies)

St. Vincent Ferrer, Ora Pro Nobis