Saint Vincent de Paul 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 in 1660.  His feast day is September 27th. He is the patron of charitable societies.

St. Vincent De Paul is among the Incorruptibles. The Incorruptibles are Catholic Saints who’s bodies show no decay after their death. The Incorruptibles are a consoling sign of Christ’s victory over death, a confirmation of the dogma of the Resurrection of the Body, a sign that the Saints are still with us in the Mystical Body of Christ, as well as a proof of the truth of the Catholic Faith – for only in the Catholic Church do we find this phenomenon.

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25 COMMENTS

  1. St Vincent De Paul pray for us and the whole world. Pray for the unbelievers and those Catholics to return back to the church. Amen.

  5. St. Vincent dePaul, you were endowed with the spiritual gifts of faith & charity. Please pray for your lowly wards on earth that we may receive such blessings and share of its fruits with all arround us that they may come to be convinced of the truths of the Faith and the Love of the Creator.

  6. St Vincent De Paul you support us with spiritual gifts,faith and charity, you are a blessings to us and one of the incorruptible Saints where your body is a witness to the holiness of our lord Jesus Christ. amen

  7. I was blessed to see a relic of his today by a pious couple And I had the joy of having the same pious couple pray for me and asking for his intercession for my pre-professional teacher volunteer work! 🙂 <3

  8. The Saint was a blessed man. He served both the poor and rich. Today, the rich relate with those in same class and the poor keep with de poor. The poor are marginalised and the little due to them is taken away. God help us to see your light.

  13. Dear St. Vincent de Paul, Please intercede for me to be charitable! To trust God to meet all my needs, and to give generously to those in need. AMEN

  15. Dear St. Vincent de Paul, Please pray for those afflicted by hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, as well as the earthquakes in Mexico. And finally please pray for us to be generous in our help and donations for our brothers and sisters in those places. Thank you for everything you have done, and continue to do for us. AMEN!

  20. Noble Saint Vincent de Paul,
    beloved servant of the poor,
    may we follow your example and do good works
    among those whom society has abandoned,
    enslaved, or forgotten.
    Inspire us to feed the hungry,
    to love a child,
    to provide comfort and medicine to the sick,
    to clothe those whose garments are threadbare,
    and to offer hope and our Lord’s words
    to all who need respite.
    Pray for us to our beloved God
    that we may commit ourselves selflessly
    to doing the same charitable acts
    that you did all your life,
    and intercede with him
    that we may have the favor of his guidance
    and strength and love upon this important and meaningful work.

    Amen.

  21. Ecce Crucem Domini!
    Fugite partes adversae!
    Vicit Leo de tribu Juda,
    Radix David! Alleluia!

    Saints Vincent de Paul and Catherine Labouré, pray for us.

    When I was a child, my dad would place a quarter in the straw near the statue of Baby Jesus in the huge Christmas crêche at the front of our parish church, directly in front of Saint Joseph’s altar, which he said was for Saint Vincent. My child brain heard that as Saint Vingt-cinq. =) I still equate the two things, Christmas charity in honour of Saint Vincent de Paul. No longer 25 cents, but 25 dollars at least! No more crêche sadly, but online donations, since cash has been all but outlawed in North America. I will always prefer anonymous almsgiving, to temper pride.

    • O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Dissolve our debt, especially student loans, provide for the basic needs of my family, cover our costs. Keep my sons working and keep our 11yr old vehicle running. Amen.

      • Praise be to God the Father Almighty! One student loan down, two to go. One credit card brought to zero, credit line next to be dissolved. 12yr old van replaced by 2yr old car. We have what we need and work hard on restraint in finances and excess of allsorts. Saints Vincent de Paul and Catherine Labouré, your incorrupt bodies in Paris are as miraculous as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception. Thank you both for your heroic virtue.

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