The Memoirs of Blessed Ramon Llull: The First Missionary Martyr to the Muslims

Robert Nixon

• Publisher: TAN Books
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781505135961
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

Death has no terrors for a sincere servant of Christ who is laboring to bring souls to a knowledge of the truth.;

—Bl. Ramon Llull (c.1232-1315)

Blessed Ramon Llulls ultimate act of final perseverance was not one single decision made by grace, but the culmination of a life spent adhering to the will of God. The Memoirs of Blessed Ramon Llull is a thrilling narrative, reading almost like an action novel. In this autobiographical work, he humbly details his triumphs as well as his own weaknesses and disappointments. Due to rivalries between Catholic leaders, Bl. Ramons missionary zeal faced indifference from within the Church as well as resistance from without.

This Franciscan tertiary is known as the Doctor Illuminatus because he wrote over 300 works that span dozens of disciplines, not least of which is his Greater Art (Arts Major). TANs edition of Llulls autobiography also includes substantial extracts from his Booklet about the End. Translated in English for the first time, by Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB, this work gives a detailed outline of his request made to Pope Clement V and the College of Cardinals for the establishment of monastic academies to train future missionaries in foreign languages. Unfortunately, his request was denied. A visionary among his fellow clergymen, Bl. Ramon was alone in recognizing the importance of learning the vernacular of the unconverted nations. Despite this and various additional disappointments he experienced, Bl. Ramon never swayed from the work Christ called him to.

Table of contents

• The Memoirs of Blessed Ramon Llull
• Copyright
• Contents
• Translator’s Introduction
• The Memoir of Blessed Ramon Llull
• Preface
• Chapter I Ramon’s conversion from the vanities of the world after a vision of Christ.
• Chapter II Ramon commits himself to the conversion of the Saracens and makes three resolutions in support of this plan.
• Chapter III Ramon becomes a Franciscan tertiary, embarks on a pilgrimage to various sacred destinations, and attains eminence as a scholar and author in Paris.
• Chapter IV Ramon returns to Majorca and learns Arabic from a servant, who comes to an unfortunate end.
• Chapter V Ramon lives as a hermit on Mount Rando and through divine inspiration, composes there his masterpiece, The Greater Art. An angel appears to him in the form of a shepherd and predicts wonderful things for his future endeavors.
• Chapter VI The king of Majorca encourages Ramon in his plan to establish a monastery for the instruction of future missionaries in foreign languages.
• Chapter VII Ramon returns to Paris and then visits Rome and other places. He tries, but fails, to obtain the support of the Papal Curia for the establishment of his monastery for the training of missionaries.
• Chapter VIII Ramon sets out for Africa but is overcome by fear of death while on the sea voyage. He returns to Genoa and is struck down by fever and despair.
• Chapter IX Ramon experiences various visions in Genoa and considers joining the Dominicans. But he remains firm in his resolve to carry out missionary work for the glory of God, regardless of the dire spiritual trials he undergoes.
• Chapter X Through prayer and the grace of God, Ramon recovers his spirits and resolution and sets forth for Tunisia.
• Chapter XI In Tunisia, he disputes boldly on questions of faith with the Saracens and speaks convincingly about the Holy Trinity.
• Chapter XII The king of Tunisia, fearing the effects of Ramon’s preaching, arrests him and sentences him to death. The sentence is commuted to exile, with orders that Ramon should be stoned to death if ever he returns to Tunisia.
• Chapter XIII Ramon travels to Naples and there teaches his Greater Art. He again seeks the support of the Papal Curia and the kings of Genoa and France for his missionary colleges but without success.
• Chapter XIV Ramon journeys to Cyprus and works to convert the many schismatic and heterodox Christians and unbelievers there. He requests that the king of Cyprus should send him to the sultan and other Saracen monarchs, but his request is not granted.
• Chapter XV Ramon discovers that his two companions, one of whom is a cleric, have been poisoning him. He survives the attempt on his life and dismisses them both. He receives a favorable reception from the grand-master of the Order of the Temple, then continues to seek support for the establishment of missionary colleges.
• Chapter XVI Ramon travels to Algeria, where he preaches the Gospel fearlessly. He attracts the attention of the local imam and narrowly escapes death. He then departs but barely survives a shipwreck on the voyage back to Europe.
• Chapter XVII Ramon arrives in Naples, where he begins an ambitious campaign for the unification of the Catholic military orders and a new crusade. He continues to travel through Europe, and while in Paris, refutes the errors of Averroes.
• Chapter XVIII A summary of Ramon’s career thus far.
• Chapter XIX Ramon returns to Tunisia, an old man but still vigorous and strong. He preaches the Gospel there once more and is stoned to death. The next night, some merchants from Majorca see a pyramid of brilliant light coming from where his body is lying. They collect his remains and return them reverently to Majorca.
• Blessed Ramon Llull’s Masterplan for the Conversion of Unbelievers and the Reclaiming of the Holy Land
• Author’s Prologue
• Endnotes