Logical mentality cannot be developed when the absurd is fomented and
cultivated, especially when it is presented under the false veneer
of religion, when it is founded on a purely puerile and simple
superstition.
In the life of Saint Vicente Ferrer, according to his novenas, the
following miracles are referred to, and there is no doubt that he
who believes in them cannot really cultivate the faculties of his
intelligence.
In Valencia a servant of Count de Faura, who was born deaf and
without tongue, was that way for many years, and adoring one
day the miracle of Saint Vicente, was cured of his deafness,
his tongue grew, and thenceforward spoke (p. 17).
A woman gave birth to a piece of meat (pedazo de carne) without
a human aspect. It was offered to Saint Vicente giving a mass,
and at the Epistle, it already had head; at the Gospel, it
had arms; and at the Consecration, it had legs, and finally
a beautiful child was evolved. The same happened with another
woman of Toledo (p. 34).
In Lisbon there lived a woman well-known for being quite
ugly and was the object of ridicule on the part of all who
saw her. She went to San Vicente and one morning she became
very fortunate and beautiful, from which the women of Lisbon
became so devout to San Vicente that those in Valencia did
not excel them (p. 27).
A merchant left once for a fair and meanwhile the wife
committed an indiscretion (una fragilidad) for which she
remained * * *. She came and appeared repentant to San Vicente
and the same went to the road whereon the husband returned
with some horses, and startled them by means of a cloak and
thus dispersed them. Then the husband lost time to gather his
horses so that when he returned to his house his wife had time
to flee from him, thus saving herself from the consequences
of her fault.
Thus with the greatest freedom an immoral and grotesque act is related
in which the innocent husband is left out and takes no step to have
just punishment meted, and the saint with his cloak commits a deviltry
only fit for urchins of the brook.
It is said that San Ramon takes such a deep interest in the misfortunes
and pains of his devotees, and is so extremely compassionate "that his
images perspire thru the affliction of his devotees" (p. 12). "An image
of the Saint perspired so copiously at one time that a devout woman
suffered and the veil with which she covered herself was stained;
and some handkerchiefs wet in his perspiration relieved headaches
marvelously" (p. 21).
Saint Roque has the power of stopping the spread of epidemics. "His
protection is what preserves us from plague and other sufferings or
diseases, which, having their origin in the corruptions of the air,
which should conserve our life, causes death" (p. 3).