Today, February 13, is the memorial of Blessed Jordan of Saxony.
Jordan was born in a castle to the noble Saxon family in 1190. He began schooling in Germany and earned his Master’s Degree in Theology from the University of Paris. Around this time he met the founder of the Order of Preachers, none other than St. Dominic of Guzman. This meeting inspired him to join the Order, which happened on Ash Wednesday, 1220.
When Dominic died, Jordan was elected to succeed him as the Master General of the Dominican Order. The Order flourished under him. It is said that his preaching was so powerful that St. Albert the Great was convinced to join the Order.
He was known as a virtuous spiritual director. Blessed Diana degli Andalo was one of his clients. He wrote many books, including a biography of St. Dominic and a history of the Order.
At age 47, Jordan died in a shipwreck off the coast of Syria in 1237. He was beatified in 1825 by Pope Leo XII.