A temperate character, a hard heart
Saint Vincent taught France charity at the time of the Great Century and its apparatuses.
He had his origin as a shepherd boy behind the sheep of his father’s flock and became a chaplain to princesses and kings. Opposed to the grandiloquent style of sermons of the time, his direct, missionary and incisive style attracted vocations to him. With an appearance in the best style of Henry IV and a temperate character, however, the sweetness of the lamb and kindness are what stand out in the man: from the Daughters of Charity to the Lazarists, the congregations he founded have all as a common point, a missionary impetus to alleviate human misery in all its forms. The church of the poor is his call.
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Biography of Saint Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul was born on April 24, 1581 in the French town of Pouy dans les Landes. His farm parents are fervent Catholics. His father has the ambition of an ecclesiastical career for him, so he sends him to the school of Dax, where it is evident that he was a brilliant student. Vicente becomes a teacher tutor with a lawyer who advises him to orient himself towards the priesthood. Thus, he left in 1598 to study theology in Toulouse and was ordained a priest two years later. The young Vincent traveled to Rome, then in 1608 to Paris where he took a course in canon law at the Sorbonne University. At the same time, the young priest visits the sick in the Charity Hospital.
Appointed in the College of chaplains of the queen, Vicente experiences a sudden social ascent. However, he is faced with a test, doubt takes hold of him. Overwhelmed, he vows to consecrate his life to the poor and sick, if he is freed from the temptation of despair. Granted his vow, he immediately begins to fulfill his promise by making a donation to the hospital. From then on, his ever-increasing spiritual aspirations triumphed over the desire for material success. In 1612 Vicente is named parish priest of Clichy and in this town he rediscovers his priesthood, his piety and his exemplary life edifies the parishioners.
In 1613, Vicente is appointed tutor in Paris, in an illustrious family: the Gondi. Although he gets what he had long sought, a place in an important family, he will be shaken again in his aspirations. One day, while he was at the bedside of a poor sick man, the latter told him, after having confessed: “Without this confession I was doomed! ”. That revolutionized the heart of Vicente who exhorts the parishioners to the general confession. This is how he takes his first step in the missionary role of priest.
A second event will deeply mark Vicente; they tell him that all the members of a family fallen into misery are sick. On this occasion he is also inspired to deliver a lecture with strong messages that will exhort the parishioners to act in favor of the unfortunate. Vicente gathers a group of determined people and founds in 1617 the first Charity Confraternityd. Since then, Vicente no longer wants to be a tutor, but rather a chaplain. Likewise, he agrees to help the galley slaves (men condemned to row in the king’s galleys), and holds the function of Chaplain General of Galeras.
Vincent knows two decisive people: Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Joan of Chantal, founders of the visitation order. Together they form the project of a society of priests, which is founded in 1625 under the name of Congregation of the Mission. In 1631, Vicente summoned in Paris a “retreat for ordinands” very successfully. The following year she organizes the “Tuesday Lectures” for young priests. Together with Luisa de Marillac, he founded in 1633 the Company of the Daughters of Charity. Along with Luisa, he also founded in 1638 The work of the found children.
At the end of his life, all his works unfold: charitable confraternities multiply and a hospital is opened in Marseilles for galley slaves. The Daughters of Charity take care of the schools free and for the elderly in hospices and foster homes. his three foundations grow and settle outside of France. Vincent de Paul died on September 27, 1660.
The works of Saint Vincent de Paul
The Mission Congregation
Founded in 1625 by Saint Vincent de Paul, the Congregation of the Mission has as its object, from the time of its founder and through his inspiration, evangelize the poor. The congregation today has more than 3,000 members in 95 countries. Mission priests are also called Lazarists, for having its origin in the Priory of Saint Lazarus in Paris. They are also known as “Vincentians” in English-speaking countries, “Paulines” in Spain and “Vincentians” in Latin America.
The Daughters of Charity
This female congregation was founded in 1633 by Saint Vincent de Paul and the Saint Louise de Marillac. It brings together women dedicated to God but not ordained and devoted to the service of the poor, the elderly, the sick, schools and orphanages. It is the congregation that Saint Catherine de Labouré will join in 1830. Daughters of Charity are also called Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul.
The influence of Saint Vincent de Paul
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society (SSVP), also sometimes called Saint Vincent de Paul Association it was founded by Frederic Ozanam and a small group of students in 1833. It is a charity network serving lonely and destitute people. It has known rapid expansion, even before the death of its founder. Today it is present in 150 countries. Volunteers work in fraternal teams called “conferences” , which work autonomously. Today they have 800,000 volunteers distributed in the 5 continents. The Saint Vincent de Paul lectures they help 30 million people every day in the world.
The religious of Saint Vincent de Paul
In 1845 three laymen founded, with the blessing of the bishop, the institution initially called, “Brothers of Saint Vincent de Paul”. The founder John Leon LePrevost describes the spirituality of the religious of Saint Vincent in this way: “the first work is the most essential business of our houses, which is to love God. This charity for God must inspire our entire life as consecrated persons and apostles”. The brothers have an apostolic action towards the poor, families and parishes.
Prayer to Saint Vincent de Paul
Discover very soon the novena to Saint Vincent de Paul for the poor.