Jacques de Voragine was born in 1228 in Varage, coastal town of Genoa, in Italy, halfway enters Savone and Voltri, from where its Latin name Jacobus de Varagine. The error of a copyist substituent a “O” with first “has” of its name will have been worth with the author to become Jacques de Voragine.

It is sixteen years old when, in 1244, it enters the order of the Preaching friars rested by Saint Dominique in 1215. In turn beginner, monk, professor of theology, preacher, it combines a science of so pure manners and a so large virtue, that all the Dominican convents of the north of Italy preserve the memory of this holy character.

Preaching friar above all, his longest chapter is devoted to Dominique saint, died since less than fifty years. Dominican like him, Thomas d' Aquin, the “doctor angelica”, teaches of 1252 to 1259 in Paris, where it writes the Sum against the nice ones, while its Master, Albert the large one, is elected provincial in Cologne in 1254.

Between 1255 and 1266, he writes the “Golden Legend” which tell the life of 180 saints, holy and martyrs chértiens like certain episodes of the life of Jesus, according to the liturgical calendar.

At Franciscan the, founded ones in 1226, Roger Bacon, the “doctor admirable” teaches in Oxford of 1252 to 1257; and Bonaventure is elected general of Franciscan in 1256, after seven years of teaching in Paris. And Jacopone da Todi (1236-1306), the future poet of Stabat MATER, will pronounce her wishes.

Jacques de Voragine is also contemporary of king Saint Louis in Paris, between the seventh and the eighth crusade which will be fatal for him. The faith builds the Holy Vault for the hearts, science builds the Sorbonne for the spirit and for the bodies charity builds Quinze-Vingts.

Whereas Guelfes (partisans of the pope) and the Ghibelline ones (partisans of the emperor) clash since 1260, Jacques de Voragine succeeds, in 1295, after three years of effort, to obtain that they are reconciled. He thus takes part in the pacification of the clans Mascherati (Ghibelline) and Rampini (Guelfes) like with various diplomatic operations between Genoa and Venice. In 1292, he becomes the archbishop of Genoa.

With through his text and his life, one notices that for Jacques de Voragine, the obvious need is to be understood by the greatest number.

Before dying in 1298, it exempted the poor of the price of its funeral and asked that its body rested in the church of its old convent and not in the cathedral near the other bishops.