The Invisible Monk

Spanish monk Saint Vincent Ferrer, who lived from around 1350 to 1419, was a person of great authority at the court of Aragon, partly because of his natural abilities, and partly because of his natural abilities, and partly because of the miracles attributed to him.

The king’s wife Queen Yolande was curious to see the inside of the cell where Ferrer lived. When he refused her permission to enter, the queen ordered the door to be forced open. She entered with her entourage, but there was no sign of him. Yet the monks present assured her that he was there – they were amazed that the queen and her attendants, could not see him as clearly as they did.

A monk asked Ferrer why the queen could not see him. He replied that he had never allowed any woman to visit his cell. God was punishing the queen for having forced her way in, and she would suffer with partial blindness for as ling as she remained there. Humbled, the queen immediately left the cell, apologizing to Ferrer for her intrusion.

Various examples of temporary invisibility are reported in connection with other saints. When a runway took refuge with Saint Lydwina of Schieldam (1380-1433), God made him invisible to his pursuer. And when Saint Lucian of Beauvais, who died in AD 290, went walking in the street, he became selectively wanted to notice him. A similar episode occurred when the king of Naples sent 60 soldiers to arrest Francis of Paola (1416-1507). Knowing that Francis had taken refuge before the altar of the church, the soldiers entered, but even though they touched the holy man, they could not see him.