EVANGELIZARE PAUPERIBUS MISIT ME

LIFE OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL

Saint Vincent de Paul was born on April, 24th, 1581 at Puoy, into a Gascony (French) peasant family. He received formal education from the Franciscans in Dax and was ordained into the priesthood at Nineteen. Vincent became a slave in captivity after five years of his priestly ordination and escaped after two years. As General Almoner, following his appointment by King Louis XIII, he was sympathetic towards jailed prisoners and royal galley slaves. Through his indefatigable ministry of love, he ministered to the corporal and spiritual needs of the people, thereby winning several hearts and minds to God.

Divine providence made an intense battle against the impoverishment of souls to begin at Folleville (France) in 1617, within the context of popular mission which eventually led to the founding of the Congregation of the Mission known as the Vincentians in 1625 by St. Vincent De Paul. The priests of the Congregation of the Mission live on the principle of five common virtues: Simplicity, humility, charity, mortification and zeal for souls. Simplicity in the sense of being plain by avoiding a complex lifestyle. Humility in the recognition of oneself as unworthy with relation to God and in obedience to one's superiors in the service. Charity in the service of love and kindness towards others, especially the Poor. Mortification in the discipline of the senses, and the zeal for souls in the availability to responding to meeting the call of mission needs as they arrive. Thus, the mission statement of the Congregation of the Mission: "He has sent me to proclaim the good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18).

The mission of the Congregation of the Mission is basically the preaching of missions even to the furthermost part of the earth where souls exist, and in the formation of the diocesan clergy. Today, the Vincentians, are also involved in parish apostolates, hospital ministry, prison apostolates, and youth ministry. Apart from the Congregation of the Mission, St. Vincent assisted in reviving the social consciousness of several noble women in his days and organised them into Ladies of Charity, who through their generous contributions, a great hospital which saw to the need of several sick poor people was established in Paris. Other charitable institutions that emerged from the work of the Ladies of Charity include Home for the aged, lepers, and asylum for the mentally challenged. In his collaboration with  Saint Louise de Marillac, he founded the Daughters of Charity in 1633. A congregation which rendered help to thousands of young women, preventing them from being victims of abuse and oppression by the society, took care of the sick and poor and organised breadlines and soup kitchens to meeting the need of the hungry. Till today, the Daughters of Charity are making progress in their mission in the world, so also are other arms of the Vincentian family, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Miraculous Medal Association, and the Vincentian Marian Youths.

After a life lived for the service of the poor, St. Vincent de Paul answered God's call through death. He died on 27th September 1660. He was beatified and canonized by Pope Clement II in 1729 and 1737 respectively. And Pope Leo XII pronounced him the Patron of all societies that are devoted to the works of charity.