Catholic holidays - Feast Day of Saint Ferdinand

On May 30, the Catholic Church celebrates the Day of Saint Ferdinand, King of Castile. This Spanish ruler lived in the first half of the 13th century and became famous for liberating the kingdom from Moorish invaders. A successful marriage and diplomatic talent allowed Ferdinand to expand his possessions, uniting Leon and Castile. Feeling the strength of the united kingdom, the ruler began the gradual reconquest of the territories occupied by the Moors. It was not just a war of liberation, but more so a defense of the Christian faith on the Iberian Peninsula. Under the leadership of Ferdinand, the richest Spanish cities were besieged and recaptured: Cordoba and Seville. In luxurious Seville, the king spent the last few years of his life, taking care of strengthening Christianity in the former Moorish territories. Ferdinand allocates funds and personally oversees the construction of the Seville Cathedral, and also organizes the restoration of the cathedral in the city of Burgos. It was very important for the highly educated Ferdinand to provide the kingdom with learned, versatile personalities. One of his decrees was the development of higher universities. The king’s religiosity was not feigned; he religiously adhered to the tenets of Christianity, distinguished by his mercy even towards his enemies. At the end of his life, the saint accepted the rank of Franciscan tertiary, observing all the strictest vows of this monastic order. The monk-king died on May 30, he was buried in the Franciscan order in the Seville Cathedral he built. For the people of Castile, this was an irreparable loss. In Castile, immediately after his death, Ferdinand began to be revered as a saint. But officially the Catholic Church canonized the king only four hundred years later on the initiative of Pope Clement X. Today Ferdinand is one of the most revered saints in Spain. Large families, governors and prisoners are under his patronage.