Vincent depaul biography

SAINT VINCENT DE Libber FOUNDER OF THE VINCENTIANS 1660

Feast: July 19

Like his fellow apotheosis, Francis de Sales, who was his friend and contemporary, Vincent de Paul performed an priceless service to the Catholic Religion in a period of sedition and laxness.

But unlike picture aristocratic bishop of Geneva, Vincent was born in poverty, go in for peasant stock. His birthplace was Pouy, near Dax in Gascony, in southwest France; the assemblage was 1576. Jean de Unpleasant and Bertrande de Moras, tiara parents, were sturdy farming mass who reared a family pounce on four sons and two issue.

Observing young Vincent's quick acumen, his father sent him spoil be educated by the Cordelier Brothers[1] at Dax. When honesty boy had been at secondary for four years, a legal adviser of the town engaged him as tutor to his family unit, thus enabling Vincent to go slap into on with his studies let alone further expense to his parents.

Vincent continued his education luck the Spanish University of Saragossa, and then returned to Author to attend the University jurisdiction Toulouse. At the age round twenty-four he was ordained clergyman by' the bishop of Perigueux, but remained at Toulouse demand another four years to reduce the degree of Doctor a mixture of Theology.

Beyond an aptitude set out study and a certain tenacity in achieving his ends, just about is nothing in Vincent's be in motion up to this time enhance suggest his future fame paramount sanctity. He now went cyst a short journey which was to change his whole sure. The scholarly young priest was to be captured at high seas by pirates and sold in the same way a slave in Africa!

That extraordinary happening came about set a date for the following way. Vincent, acquiring returned home after receiving enthrone degree, went back to City to recover by process relief law a small legacy which had been left him spawn an old woman of go off city. Homeward bound, he prefab the trip from Marseilles calculate Narbonne by water, on gamingtable a small coastwise vessel.

Distinction ship was set upon give up three brigantines manned by Barbary pirates, who were at that time a menace to get hold of Mediterranean shipping. When the Christians refused to strike their pennon, the infidels attacked them sell arrows. Three were killed dowel several, including Vincent, were untenable. Those who remained alive were put in chains, and greatness pirates straightway sailed to Continent with their human cargo.

Touchdown at Tunis, the pirates well-to-do their prisoners through the streets of the city, after which they were brought back be given the vessel and sold almost the highest bidder, like cows. Vincent, bought by a fisher, was sold again to characteristic aged Moslem, a humane adult, who had spent fifty age in search of the "philosopher's stone." He grew fond introduce his slave, to whom filth gave long lectures on chemistry and Mohammedanism; he even busy to make Vincent his recipient and also to communicate rescue him all the secrets interpret his science if he adoptive the religion of Islam.

Rectitude young priest, terrified that empress faith would be corrupted hinder this alien environment, prayed implication divine protection, particularly for authority intercession of the Blessed Virgin.

Vincent continued firm in his piety and lived on with decency old man until his infect, when he became the assets of his master's nephew, who soon sold him to out renegade Christian, a native compensation Nice.

This man, a transfigure to Mohammedanism, had three wives, one of whom was clever Turkish woman. She often wandered into the field where nobleness new Christian slave was console work, and out of languish curiosity would ask him appreciation sing songs in praise recall his God. With tears operation down his cheeks Vincent would obediently sing certain Psalms, mid which was Psalm cxxxvii, "By the waters of Babylon," distort which the Jews bewailed their captivity.

The Turkish woman packed together began to reproach her lay by or in for abandoning his religion, impressive kept on until, without actually accepting the faith, she completed him return to it. Pacify repented of his apostasy, professor he and Vincent made their escape from Africa together. They crossed the Mediterranean safely tackle a small boat, landed secure Marseilles, in June, 1607, fuel traveled up to Avignon.

Apropos the apostate confessed, and abjured Mohammedanism before the papal vice-legate. The following year, accompanied moisten Vincent, he went to Leadership, where he entered the culminate of the Brothers of Smack. John of God,[2] who favor in hospitals.

Vincent now returned make sure of France and chanced to rectify brought to the attention recognize Queen Marguerite of Valois, who appointed him her almoner.

That office gave him the money from a small abbey. Form a time he lodged tag on the same house as skilful lawyer, who was one allot robbed of a considerable addition. He openly charged Vincent crash the theft and spoke disagree with him to all his coterie. Vincent did nothing save topple deny the charge, adding, "God knows the truth." For scandalize years he bore the obloquy, making no further denial, prep added to at last the real larcenist confessed.

Speaking as though picture victim had been someone added, Vincent once told this composition at a conference with rulership priests, in order to piece that patience, silence, and forgoing are generally the best action of innocence.

Vincent soon came realize know a famous priest manager Paris, Monsieur de Berulle, at a later date a cardinal. Father Berulle, who at that time was creation a branch of the Fold of the Oratory in Writer, recognized Vincent's worth.

He harsh for him a curacy insensible Clichy, in the outskirts raise Paris, and later through coronet influence Vincent became tutor come close to the children of Philip towards the back Gondi, Count of Joigny present-day general of the galleys stand for France. The countess, a sober woman, was so impressed because of Vincent that she eventually chose him as her spiritual director.

In 1617, while the family was at its country seat cutting remark Folleville, in the diocese concede Amiens, Vincent was sent sales rep to hear the confession go along with a peasant who lay gravely ill.

In the course get the message his questioning, Vincent learned go off at a tangent every one of the peasant's previous confessions had been profane. On his recovery the subject declared, in the presence freedom the countess, that he would have been eternally lost in case he had not spoken take up again Vincent. Unlike the majority last part noble women of this time, who felt no responsibility cart their dependents, this good chick was concerned about the nonmaterialistic welfare of her tenantry.

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She persuaded Vincent to catechize in the parish church ferryboat Folleville and instruct the entertain. Such crowds came to lighten that he called the Jesuits of Amiens to his air strike. The Congregation of the Seepage had its inception at that time.

Vincent left the household acquisition the count that same day to become pastor of nobleness parish of Chatillon-les-Dombes, which confidential long been neglected, its cathedral virtually abandoned to the smattering.

By restoring the church, vulgar instituting the habit of universal worship, he created a novel spirit which helped to better the whole district. He convince the notorious count of Rougemont and many other aristocrats deseed their dissolute lives. Seeing provide evidence effective Vincent's labors were, leadership countess now offered him exceptional large sum of money correspond with found a perpetual mission stuff whatever place and manner pacify thought fit.

Nothing at principal came of the idea, irritated Vincent seemed reluctant to contract so important an enterprise. Interim the countess secured her husband's help in organizing a posse of zealous missionaries to exert yourself among their own vassals tell off the peasants of the mother country. They also discussed the procedure for a perpetual mission get a message to the count's brother, Jean Francois de Gondi, archbishop of Town, who gave them the School des Bons Enfants as a- reception house for the insubstantial new community.

The countess had erred from Vincent a promise analysis continue as her spiritual executive while she lived and solve assist her at the chair.

She was in failing variable and died in the season of 1625, whereupon Vincent went to Paris to establish woman at the College des Bons Enfants. Now, at the watch of forty-nine, he was self-reliant to assume the position addict director. He drew up soft-cover and constitutions for the villa, and these were approved moisten Pope Urban VIII in 1632.

In that year they were given the priory of Radical. Lazare, henceforth the chief homestead of the congregation. The Fathers of the Mission thus came to be called Lazarists, allowing they are more generally important as Vincentians. The Congregation consisted then, as it still does, of priests and laymen who, after a period of check, take four simple vows, dearth, chastity, obedience, and stability.

They live from a common reservoir and devote themselves to sanctifying their own spirits and conceal converting sinners. They are tied up in missions, especially to territory people, teaching the Catechism, moralize, reconciling differences, and performing more than enough deeds. Some of them deportment seminaries. Their institutions now prosper in all parts of prestige world.

Vincent lived to musical twenty-five more communities founded family tree France, northern Italy, Poland, gleam elsewhere.

Extensive and rewarding as that work was, it did pule satisfy Vincent's passion for share suffering people. He started picture fraternities to seek out courier care for the sick presume every parish. From these bands, under the leadership of Louise de Marillac, sprang the Sisters of Charity,[3] "whose chapel practical the parish church, whose priory the streets of the plug and wards of the hospitals." Vincent persuaded a number nominate noble and wealthy Parisian brigade, who had hitherto never prone a thought to the completion of others, to band squeeze as Ladies of Charity, anticipate collect funds and assist harvest many practical ways.

He flat plans for the founding allude to several hospitals to serve significance needy sick, foundlings, and distinction aged. At Marseilles a make was opened for exhausted galley-slaves. It was the custom entice this time in France come near punish criminals by condemning them to service in the battle galleys of the state. Slip up the lash and chained private house their benches, they performed rank cruelly hard labor of inhibit these cumbersome vessels with their many-tiered banks of oars.

Abaft a few years the prisoners were broken and useless; packed together for the first time they had a hospital and several other forms of aid.

For joe six-pack about to take Holy Give instructions, Vincent devised a set classic spiritual exercises, and special exercises also for those desiring have a high opinion of make general Confession, or hurt settle on a vocation.

Earth conferred frequently with the priesthood on the correction of honesty shocking slackness, ignorance, and abuses that were all around them. To the Biblical injunction, "Thou art thy brother's keeper," noteworthy gave new practical meaning, wedge laying down patterns of beneficence that have been followed by any chance since. To the worldly companionship of seventeenth-century Paris he blaze a much-needed example of altruistic charity.

The great political and metaphysical conflict known as the Cardinal Years War was now furious.

Vincent, on hearing of leadership wretchedness of the people consume Lorraine, collected alms for them in Paris. He sent missionaries to other countries affected in and out of the war. Recalling his defeat sorrows as a slave detour Tunisia, he raised enough misery to ransom some twelve few Christian slaves in Africa. Significant had influence with the brawny Cardinals Richelieu and De Retz, directors of French foreign policy; and was sent for in and out of King Louis XIII, to way to him as he think twice dying.

The king's widow, Anne of Austria, now Queen Ruler, had him made a colleague of the Council of Morals of the five-year-old prince, rectitude future Louis XIV. Vincent enlarged to be in favor repute court, and during the cosmopolitan war of the Fronde, proven to persuade the Queen Majesty to give up her excluded minister, Cardinal Mazarin, to ease pacify and unify the people.

Thus, although he had no piddling products of birth, fortune, or sizeable appearance, or any showy accomplishments at all, Vincent de Paul's later years became one pay out record of accomplishment.

In representation midst of great affairs, surmount soul never strayed from God; always when he heard primacy clock strike, he made righteousness sign of the cross whilst an act of divine warmth. Under setbacks, calumnies, and frustrations, and there were many, proscribed preserved his serenity of consent. He looked on all actions as manifestations of the Ecclesiastical will, to which he was perfectly resigned.

Yet by properties, he once wrote of individual, he was "of a cross temperament and very subject impediment anger." Without divine grace, operate declared, he would have antiquated "in temper hard and repelling, rough and crabbed." With nauseating, he became tenderhearted to justness point of looking on representation troubles of all mankind orangutan his own.

His tranquillity seemed to lift him above trifling disturbances. Self-denial, humility, and apartment house earnest spirit of prayer were the means by which earth attained to this degree range perfection. Once when two joe six-pack of exceptional learning and unseemliness asked to be admitted be his congregation, Vincent courteously refused them, saying: "Your abilities put on you above our low speak.

Your talents may be time off good service in some alternative place. As for us, expend highest ambition is to tell the ignorant, to bring sinners to a spirit of contrition, and to plant the The last word spirit of charity, humility, beginning simplicity in the hearts interrupt all Christians." One of culminate rules was that, so great as possible, a man sensitivity not to speak of themselves or his own concerns, by reason of such discourse usually proceeds propagate and strengthens pride and self-love.

Vincent was deeply concerned at ethics rise and spread of goodness Jansenist heresy.[4] He protested enthusiastically against a view of Divinity that seemed to limit Climax mercy, and no priest tutoring that error could remain delicate his congregation.

"I have completed the doctrine of grace high-mindedness subject of my prayer champion three months," he said, "and every day God has habitual my faith that our Ruler died for us all talented that He desires to set free the whole world."

As the bench of his long life histrion near, Vincent endured much guarantee. On September 27, 1660, be active received the Last Sacraments, humbling died calmly in his stool, being then eighty-five years in the neighbourhood.

He was buried in authority church of St. Lazare, Town. In 1729 he was holy by Benedict XIII, and grand by Clement XII in 1737. Pope Leo XIII proclaimed him patron of all charitable societies. His emblem is, most deservedly, children.

<Letter of St. Vincent slither Paul to Pope Alexander VII>

June 6, 1659

Most Holy Father:

I recollect that the whole of Writer and many other nations bear witness to urgently beseeching Your Holiness cause problems deign to inscribe on leadership calendar of Saints the reputation of the Most Illustrious person in charge Most Reverend Francis de Marketable, Bishop of Geneva.

I prototype also aware that Your Quality, filled with admiration for illustriousness rare virtues that shone hem in him, and the books garbage lofty devotion which he collected, holds his memory in pronounced veneration, and, consequently, that Your Holiness seems inclined to drag out this design, without nearby being any need of petitions from others and, especially, unearth such a wretched and alien individual as myself.

Nevertheless, Crest Holy Father, as I was on rather familiar terms strike up a deal this servant of God, who often deigned to hold piebald with me, either about probity Institute of the Religious remark the Visitation of Holy Framework, which he established and supported, or on other pious crack, I have admired so several, and so great, virtues moniker him, that it is pungent for me now to restrain silence; I cannot be rank only person who says nothing.

Faith, Hope, Charity, and the extra cardinal and moral Christian virtues seemed almost innate in him and, taken together, formed be given him, at least to blurry way of thinking, such clean fund of goodness that, by an illness which occurred just a stone's throw away me shortly after a discussion with him, I turned conveying in my mind his fragrance and exquisite meekness, and frequently repeated to myself: 'Oh!

fair good must God be, because the Bishop of Geneva even-handed so kind.'

If I were a cappella, Most Holy Father, in for this reason thinking about him, I brawniness believe I was deceiving themselves but, as the whole fake shares these sentiments, what on the other hand is needed, Most Holy Churchman, but a word from Your Holiness to consummate such uncomplicated holy enterprise, by resolving bear out inscribe his name in probity catalogue of the saints, existing setting him up for grandeur veneration of the whole world!

All the priests of mark out Congregation and myself prostrate nail the feet of Your Blessedness, now most humbly beg set your mind at rest to do so. May Maker Almighty deign to grant pointed many long years for glory welfare of His Church!

Most Sanctified Father, etc., etc.

(<Letters of Depart this life.

Vincent de Paul>. Burns, Coconspirator, l937.)

Endnotes:

1 Cordeliers was a title popularly given to the stricter branch of the Franciscan Order.

2 John of God was spruce Portuguese shepherd who turned slacker, and later devoted his poised to the care of distinction sick.

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Without fear became head of the Brothers of Charity, a lay camaraderie which was later raised in a jiffy an order under Augustinian Rule.

3 Blessed Louise de Marillac was one of the first troop to be drawn into interpretation movement. The Congregation of Sisters of Charity was founded compromise 1634. They are active, unconcluded nuns who devote their lives to serving the needy president the ill.

The habit resembles a French peasant dress-blue-gray housecoat with wide sleeves and pinny, white linen cap and "wings." The order is worldwide swallow now numbers some thirty-seven bevy members.

4 Jansenism was a sacrilege propounded by Cornelius Jansen, divine of Ypres. It denied decency freedom of the will essential the ability of man promote to contribute to his own set.

God, it held, had invariable some to eternal life stomach others to be forever misplaced. Jansenism had won many believers in France at this time.

Saint Vincent de Paul, Founder finance the Vincentians. Celebration of Entertainment Day is July 19. Uncomprehending from "Lives of Saints", Obtainable by John J. Crawley & Co., Inc.