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Feast Day: September 27
Born on April 24, 1581, in Pouy,
near Dax in the region of the Landes, Vincent de Paul was ordained a priest at Chateau-l’Eveque
in the Dordogne region, on September 23, 1600.
As a priest, he pursued his studies and
undertook voyages at sea, one of which, according to the account he gave of it, ended with
his capture at sea and being sold as a slave in Tunisia.
Having converted his master he escaped, traveled to Avignon, Rome and
finally, to Paris, arriving around the year 1608.
Having been almsgiver
for the Queen, Margaret de Valois, and then Pastor of Clichy, he became a tutor in the
powerful de Gondi family. It was while
traveling through the property of the de Gondis that he noticed the abandonment and
spiritual needs of the country people.
At that time, God intervened in his life
through two events: 1) January 25, 1617, he preached a sermon at Folleville, near
Amiens. This was the beginning of the “Congregation of the Mission”, which was
founded to preach popular missions and to work for the formation of the clergy in France
and elsewhere. The Priests and brothers of
the Congregation of the Mission are now known, in France especially, as “Lazarists”,
from the name of their Motherhouse, Saint Lazare. 2)
In August of that same year, 1617, at Cahtillon-les-Dombes, St Vincent, struck by
the material poverty of the country people, established the first “Confraternity of
Charity”. The confraternities
multiplied, and today are known as “Vincentian Teams”. The foundation of the Daughters of Charity
(Sisters of St Vincent de Paul) followed some years later, in 1633.
An advisor who was
listened to by the governments of his day, “Monsieur Vincent”, as he was called
stimulated and guided the activities of France towards all forms of poverty. His untiring charity rapidly crossed over all
borders, and he sent missionaries to Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Tunisia, Algeria,
Madagascar and Poland, where they joined the Daughters of Charity. He was surrounded by
many collaborators, priests and lay persons, and in the name of Jesus Christ, his Master
and Model, he placed them at the service of all those who were suffering.
When Monsieur Vincent died on Septmeber 27,
1660, an immense crowd had benefited from his love.
On June 16,1737, he
was proclaimed a Saint by Pope Clement XIII.
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