February 13
Blessed Jordan of Saxony, Priest
Obligatory Memorial
Born at the end of the 12th century in Borgberge, in Westphalia, Jordan received the habit of the Order in Paris from Blessed Reginald on Feb. 12, 1220.
He was the first successor of Our Holy Father Dominic in the government of the Order, and had known him personally. For 15 years he provided for the brothers and sisters by his word, example, letters, drafting of the Constitutions, frequent visitations and singular gentleness. By the integrity of his life and his marvelous eloquence, he greatly expanded the Order.
Burning with confident devotion to the Virgin Mother of God, he decreed that the antiphon Salve Regina should be sung in her honor after Compline.
Returning from the Province of the Holy Land, which he had gone to visit, he died in a shipwreck on Feb. 13, 1237. From the time of his death, he was honored in various ways by the brothers and by the Christian faithful, and Leo XII confirmed his cult on May 10, 1826.
Proprium Officiorum Ordinis Praedicatorum ad Normam Decretorum Sacrosancti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II Instauratum Vincentii Couesnongle iussu editum, Editio typica, Sanctae Sabinae, Romae 1982.
