January 7

St. Raymond of Penyafort

A thirteenth-century Spanish Dominican priest and canonist who compiled the Decretals — the definitive collection of papal law that governed the Church for centuries. Raymond also directed St. Thomas Aquinas to write the Summa Contra Gentiles. He resigned as Master General of the Dominicans to return to a simple life of preaching and prayer. He is the patron saint of canon lawyers.