Born in Germany late in the 12th century, Jordan belonged to the noble family of the Counts of Eberstein. 

In his youth, he studied at home but he went to the University of Paris to finish his studies and it was there that he met St. Dominic Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers, and he was Blessed with the desire to join the Domicans, receiving his habit on Ash Wednesday of 1220. 

Jordan became an outstanding teacher and spent time in classrooms in a number of schools in Paris. 

Then in August of 1221, St. Dominic passed away and Jordan was elected as his successor, becoming Master General of the Dominicans. 

Under his leadership over 300 priories were added, attracting more than a thousand students and professors from all across Europe. 

On two separate occasions, he held a chair at the University of Paris and founded the University of Toulouse. 

However, when he was just 47 years old, there was a shipwreck as Jordan was traveling back from Palestine and his boat sank off the coast of Syria. 

Jordan died on this day in 1237 and is buried at the Dominican Church of St. John Acco in Israel. 

St. Jordan of Saxony, please pray for us.