About St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent was born of poor parents in the village of Pouy in Gascony, France, about 1580. He enjoyed his first schooling under the Franciscan Fathers at Acqs. Such had been his progress in four years that a gentleman chose him as subpreceptor to his children, and he was thus enabled to continue his studies without being a burden to his parents. In 1596, he went to the University of Toulouse for theological studies, and there he was ordained priest in 1600.

In 1605, on a voyage by sea from Marseilles to Narbonne, he fell into the hands of African pirates and was carried as a slave to Tunis. His captivity lasted about two years, until Divine Providence enabled him to effect his escape.

 

After a brief visit to Rome he returned to France, where he became preceptor in the family of Emmanuel de Gondy, Count of Goigny, and General of the galleys of France. In 1617, he began to preach missions, and in 1625, he lay the foundations of a congregation which afterward became the Congregation of the Mission or Lazarists, so named on account of the Prioryof St. Lazarus, which the Fathers began to occupy in 1633.

It would be impossible to enumerate all the works of this servant of God. Charity was his predominant virtue. It extended to all classes of persons, from forsaken childhood to old age. The Sisters of Charity also owe the foundation of their congregation to St. Vincent. In the midst of the most distracting occupations his soul was always intimately united with God. Though honored by the great ones of the world, he remained deeply rooted in humility. The Apostle of Charity, the immortal Vincent de Paul, breathed his last in Paris at the age of eighty. His feast day is September 27th. He is the patron of charitable societies.

Stained Glass Window depicting the Life of St. Vincent de Paul

This window (right) captures St. Vincent’s vision of service as a response to the Gospel.  The four symbols of the Evangelists, the Cross, the Children and scene of Marseilles Harbour each capture an important aspect of his down to earth yet profound faith.

The corners contain a symbol of the four Gospels which act as the framework for Vincent’s practical response.  Vincent embracing children in a spirit of love expresses his practical concern for the poor.  For Vincent it wasn’t enough just to be enthused about the Gospel,  one had to serve the poor to ‘touch God’.   The Cross was central to his prayer life as a missionary.  In Marseilles Vincent came face to face with the harsh realities of poverty in his own time .

Artist Ray Carroll