canonry in his church, made
him his archdeacon, grand vicar, and official. He was a perfect model to
the clergy, by his innocence, zeal, devotion, and boundless liberalities
to the poor, whom he called his creditors. In 1222 he took the religious
habit of St. Dominick at Barcelona, eight months after the death of the
holy founder, and in the forty-seventh year of his age. No person was
ever seen among the young novices more humble, more obedient, or more
fervent. To imitate the obedience of a Man-God, who reduced himself to a
state of subjection to his own creatures, to teach us the dangers and
deep wound of self-will, and to point out to us the remedy, the saint
would depend absolutely on the lights of his director in all things. And
it was upon the most perfect self-denial that he laid the foundation of
that high sanctity which he made the object of his most earnest desires.
The grace of prayer perfected the work which mortification had begun. In
a spirit of compunction he begged of his superiors that they would
enjoin him some severe penance, to expiate the vain satisfaction and
complacency which he said he had sometimes taken in teaching. They
indeed imposed on him a penance, but not such a one as be expected. It
was to write a collection of cases of conscience for the instruction and
conveniency of confessors and moralists. This produced his Sum, the
first work of that kind. Had his method and decisions been better
followed by some later authors of the like works, the holy maxims of
Christian morality had been treated with more respect by some moderns
than they have been, to our grief and confusion.

Raymund joined to the exercises of his solitude the functions of an
apostolical life, by laboring without intermission in preaching,
instructing, hearing confessions with wonderful fruit, and converting
heretics, Jews, and Moors. Among his penitents were James, king of
Aragon, and St. Peter Nolasco, {201} with whom he concerted the
foundation of the Order of the B. Virgin of mercy for the redemption of
captives. James, the young king of Aragon, had married Eleonora of
Castile within the prohibited degrees, without a dispensation. A legate
was sent by pope Gregory IX. to examine and judge the case. In a council
of bishops of the two kingdoms, held at Tarragon, he declared the
marriage null, but that their son Don Alphonso should be reputed
lawfully born, and heir to his father's crown. The king had taken his
confessor w