St. Vincent de Paul

Vincent de Paul was born in Gascony, France, most likely in 1580, although some sources say 1576. His family were peasants and they were eager to have their son advance in the Church. He finished his theological studies at Toulouse and was ordained in 1600. He continued his studies after ordination and earned his keep by tutoring. In 1605 he traveled to Marseilles to collect an inheritance, but as he was returning home by sea, he was captured by Turkish pirates who sold him as a slave in Tunis. This event changed his life, causing him to turn more deeply to God; although sincerely devout at the time of his ordination, he had had his eyes set too much on advancing his position. In Tunis, his master was a renegade Christian married to a Muslim woman. The wife of this man was so impressed by Vincent's faith and love of God that she upbraided her husband for leaving such a beautiful religion. In 1607, Vincent's master returned to the faith and he and Vincent escaped from Muslim territory back to France. Once home, Father Vincent became almoner to Queen Marguerite of Valois. In 1612, he became the tutor of Phillppe-Emmanuael de Gondi's children and spiritual director to Madame de Gondi. Here Father Vincent began finding his true vocation. With the help of Mme. de Gondi he gave parish missions on her estates, but finding himself much admired, he left this position to avoid becoming vain. He became pastor of a small parish and converted several Protestants, but the Gondi family implored him to come back to them, so he gave some more missions on their estates. After every mission, he helped the local people found a group to help the poor. Several well-educated priests from Paris began to join his work. Father Vincent became very involved in helping the galley prisoners, who were punished for crimes by being made to row the large ships called galleys; these men were treated very poorly, and due to his influence with the royal family. Vincent was able to get conditions improved for them. To continue the work of preaching missions, he founded the Congregation of the Mission which gave missions and retreats to laypeople and to priests. He helped organize eleven seminaries to improve the training of priests. To minister to the sick, the aged, the poor, and children, Father Vincent founded the Daughters of Charity, with the help of St. Louise de Marillac. During the Thirty Years War, Father Vincent and his congregations helped numerous refugees, both poor and rich who fled to Paris, including Irish and English refugees. After a long, fruitful life, Vincent de Paul died on September 27, 1660; he was mourned by people of all classes. Throughout his life, he had written 30,000 letters of spiritual and practical advice and consolation; thousands of these letters are still in existent. St. Vincent de Paul was canonized in 1737; he is the patron of charitable organizations