Kindness That Says: "Here I Am" Memorial of St. Ferrer on Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

On this Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent, we honor Saint Ferrer (1350-1419). He lived during the time of the Western Schism which was a spilt within the Catholic Church, it lasted from 1378-1417. It was a time of deep spiritual confusion and division.

Famed Preacher and Miracle Worker

• Around 1399, Vincent received what he described as a divine commission: to travel and preach repentance, preparing people for the coming judgment, not with fear, but with hope.

• He became a wandering missionary preacher, and travelled through Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland, preaching in fields, churches, town squares, and wherever people would gather.

• His sermons drew huge crowds, and many were moved to conversion and reconciliation urging people to confess their sins, seek peace, and live fully for God.

Spiritual Gifts and Legacy

• Many contemporaries considered him a miracle worker, with numerous accounts of healings, conversions, and prophecies attributed to him.

• He was known for his kindness, patience, and pastoral care, always concerned with people's spiritual and everyday needs.

A Heart that Says, “Here I Am”

Psalm 40, the Responsorial Psalm for today, captures the spirit of St. Vincent’s life and mission:

“Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.”
“I have announced your justice in the vast assembly… I have not restrained my lips, as you, O Lord, know.”

Like the psalmist, Vincent responded to God’s call with a wholehearted yes. He didn’t just speak about God, he lived in such a way that his very presence became an invitation to hope.

This psalm is about a heart that listens and a life that acts. It speaks of obedience not as duty, but as desire of proclaiming God’s justice not with harshness, but with humble, joyful faithfulness.

St. Vincent Ferrer’s kindness wasn’t soft or sentimental. It was courageous and consistent, a kindness that waited on the Lord, that spoke truth in love, and that offered hospitality of heart to all he met. These words echo through salvation history. They were spoken in different ways by Abraham, Moses, the prophets, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and ultimately, by Christ Himself. It is the posture of a heart available to God, rooted in trust and kindness.

The psalmist doesn't offer empty ritual but a listening heart:

“Sacrifice and offering you do not desire… ears open to obedience you gave me.”

This is kindness not as sentiment, but as attentiveness, a willingness to listen, to obey, and to love.

Reflect

Kindness begins with listening.
It begins with stopping long enough to hear the quiet stirrings of God.
It continues by opening our hands and hearts and saying, simply, “Here I am.”

But kindness is not just for the quiet places of prayer. It belongs to the street, the office, the home, and the marketplace.

Kindness in everyday life is:

• Practicing patience when we’re tempted to be short

• Offering a loving look or gesture to someone who may need it

• Giving an honest compliment or a small act of generosity

• Sharing a coffee with workers at your home or workplace

• Taking time for hospitality in a world where everyone is rushed

These are small things, but they carry great light. They can brighten someone’s day, lift their spirit, and give them strength they didn’t know they needed.

In a time when everyone is wrapped up in their own concerns, a single act of kindness — born of a heart that says “Here I am” — can be a holy interruption.

On this day, April 5th, we also honor St. Vincent Ferrer, who was not only a fiery preacher but also a man of deep kindness and compassion. He served during a time of great division and fear, yet his words and actions consistently pointed others back to God’s mercy. Like the psalmist, he offered his life in service, saying again and again with his preaching and care:
“Here I am, Lord.”

Pray

Lord, you lifted me from many pits,
and gave me a new song to sing.
Teach me to listen with kindness,
to respond with generosity,
and to say with my whole life:
“Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.”
May I never underestimate what one smile, one gesture, or one small kindness can do.
Through the example of St. Vincent Ferrer,
may I preach your goodness not only with words, but with the way I live. Amen.