St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul Lived from 1581 - 1660. As a French Priest he spent much of his life time serving and preaching to the poor. He established several religious congregations which we know today as Vincentian Fathers, and the Daughters of Charity. His Co-founder was St. Louise Marillac. These institutions were founded in the year 1633. St. Vincent was a person of many accomplishments, yet he was always a very loving and humble person. His family lived in a poor rural district in France, now called Saint-Vincent de Paul. He was one of six children in a family of peasants; his family was very poor. He was in his middle teens when he entered the seminary where he spent five years before he was ordained in 1600. While traveling from Marseilles. France to Narbonne he was captured by pirates and was sold into slavery where he remained for two years before finally escaping. From here he traveled to Rome to study theology for several years. His life’s travels would carry him back to France where he spent many years as a parish priest and chaplain to an influential family. Eventually he was made chaplain general of the French galleys and this would be important to the men that worked the galleys. His life was dedicated to the poor and the oppressed. He loved the poor and those whose lives were subjected to misery. He must have learned great lessons in life as a slave himself. Vincent was warm, simple and unpretentious. He attracted many friends. People found him gentle and open. Although he was a man of deep feelings, he rarely revealed them to anyone. Vincent’s concern and caring for those who were unfortunate, and victims of misery continued to be his primary goal in life. He reached out to children that were abandoned, he started a school for poor boys, he established a refuge for the mentally ill, he aided the sick and did so may other things to reach out to those in need. St. Vincent is gone, but the needs of the suffering still remain. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of today carries on in his name and works with many who are in need. However they are limited by money, resources and all that is vital in dealing with human suffering and misery. We, at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, are generous in our contributions to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, both in money and material resources. This is still far short of what is required to give those in need even limited assistance. More of everything is always a thing to be hoped for when so many are without. adults as well children. All are welcome to contribute their time, their ideas and share their resources, so the dreams of this great Saint, and perhaps yours, will continue. A writing of Vincent may better bring out his dream and his commitment True Charity knows not how to remain idle or shut up within itself. The property of fire is to give forth light and heat, so also the property of love is to communicate itself. We should love God and serve our neighbor at the expense of our goods and even our lives.