St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent was born into a very poor peasant family, who lived in a French village of Pouy on April 24, 1581. St. Vincent was educated by the Franciscans, and he was said to be a very good and educated student which made a near by wealthy family hire him as a tutor. St. Vincent saved his money and ended up studying theology at the University of Toulouse.
In the year 1600 he was ordained and he decided to stay in Toulouse. A few years later during 1605, while he was travelling on a ship that was taking him from Marseilles to Narbone he got captured, St. Vincent was later brought to Tunis and ended up being sold as a slave. St. Vincent however escaped 2 years later with his master and they both returned to France.
St. Vincent later went to Avignon, France and he decided to go to Rome after to do his studies. When he was there he was able to become a chaplain for the Count of Goigny and was in charge of giving money to the poor. He eventually became the the pastor of a small parish in Clichy, France and he was also able to be a tutor and a spiritual director.
After that time in his life he spent the rest of his life serving the poor any way possible. He would provide relief for them and he made hospitals for them. St. Vincent devoted his life to the poor and he would help them a lot. He later started to help convicts and more people. He created a lay institute for woman named Ladies of Charity, and he also made an institute for priests called the Congregation of Priests of the mission (known as Vincentians). St. Vincent made these institutes because their was a need of more evangelizing so that more souls could be won for God.
St. Vincent through these institutes helped reform the clergy by the way the men were instructed and prepared for the priesthood. St. Vincent helped prepare men through many ways such as through retreats and he later decided to do this by helping develop a precursor to our modern day seminaries. His retreats, were open to everyone from laymen to priest, they were said to be so well attended that it is said he infused a Christian spirit among more than 20,000 people during the last 23 years of his life.
The Vincentians still exist today and their are nearly 4,000 members in 86 countries.
St. Vincent also co-funded the Daughters of Charity and he did this with St. Louise de Marillac. Today their are over 18,000 daughters serving in over 94 countries the poor. St. Vincent lived a life of true devotion to God and helping the poor and he is known as “The Apostle of Charity”.
St. Vincent’s incorrupt heart is currently in the Convent of the Sisters of Charity and his bones are in a wax effigy of St. Vincent and located at the Church of the Lazarist Mission.
Two main miracles that have occurred through the intercession of St. Vincent include a nun being cured from ulcers and a laywoman being cured of paralysis. It is said that over 30,000 letters were written by St. Vincent during his lifetime and 7,000 were collected during the 18th century. Many collections of his letter exist today.
The feast day for St. Vincent who is the patron saint of Charity is celebrated on September 27.
Prayer to St. Vincent:
St. Vincent intercede for us, that we may have the wisdom to give more to others then we receive. To serve the poor and vulnerable people in our communities and in the whole world. We pray that you may continue to place your mantel protection over the poor, nuns, priests and for all who are discerning the religious life. We pray that you may please help us to have the strength to guide more people to God and help us to live a life devoted to helping the poor so that we may be united with you in heaven and guide more people to heaven.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord and Mary Our Mother in Heaven.
Amen
May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.
Works cited:
Information (read from, not taken):
Catholic Online. “St. Vincent de Paul.” Saints and Angels. 2021. St. John of God - St. Vincent de Paul - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online. Accessed 15 March 2021.
Images:
Vincent de Paul. March 15, 2021.
Saint Vincent de Paul. March 15, 2021.
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