St. Ferdinand III of Castile

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Feastday: May 30
Patron of engineers
Died: 1252

Ferdinand III of Castile was the son of Alfonso IX, King of Leon, and Berengaria, daughter of Alfonso III, King of Castile (Spain). He was declared king of Castile at age eighteen. Ferdinand was born near Salamanca; proclaimed king of Palencia, Valladolid, and Burgos; his mother advised and assisted him during his young reign. He married Princess Beatrice, daughter of Philip of Suabia, King of Germany and they had seven sons and three daughters. His father (the king of Leon) turned against him and tried to take over his rule. The two reconciled later, and fought successfully against the Moors. In 1225, he held back Islamic invaders; prayed and fasted to prepare for the war; extremely devoted to the Blessed Virgin. Between 1234-36, Ferdinand conquered the city of Cordoba from the Moors. Queen Beatrice died in 1236, and he overtook Seville shortly thereafter. He founded the Cathedral of Burgos and the University of Salamanca; married Joan of Ponthieu after the death of Beatrice. He died on May 30th after a prolonged illness, and buried in the habit of his secular Franciscan Order. His remains are preserved in the Cathedral of Seville and was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671. Ferdinand was a great administrator and a man of deep faith. He founded hospitals and bishoprics, monasteries, chuches, and cathedrals during his reign. Her also compiled and reformed a code of laws which were used until the modern era. Ferdinand rebuilt the Cathedral of Burgos and changed the mosque in Seville into a Cathedral. He was a just ruler, frequently pardoning former offenders to his throne. His feast day is May 30th.

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1 - 7 of 7 Comments

Carly James
3 days ago
I'm related to him also! Tricia Boardman, we might be long lost sisters.... and you're also descended from Charlemagne... but this was really helpful! I'm making a prezi about my ancestry and thought this was really cool!
Isabel
6 months ago
what the saint ferdinand to became a saint?
Tricia Boardman
7 months ago
I was happy to find this concise article about Saint King Ferdinand. He is my grandfather through his daughter who married King Edward I of England. Saint Ferdinand pray for us, pray for the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and for our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.
carrol
10 months ago
I am a secular franciscian and picked St. Ferdinand as one of my saints for the year. It is interesting because my fiancee name is Ferdinand and is of Afrian royalty!
Cecilia
2 years ago
I am currently reading a fascinating book about Saint Ferdinand III (St. Fernando III - A Kingdom for Christ by James Fitzhenry), and his strong devotion to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary was really inspiring. He was an incredible man. :)
Fr. Andrew L. J. James
2 years ago
One should take note of the fact that, when he changed the mosque in Sevilla into a church, he ruined an architectural treasure. It is one thing to take a mosque and turn it into a church. It is another to make of that mosque into something that could better be served with a new building.
Carmela
3 years ago
St Ferdinand,
Please intercede for me in this time of great need.

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