π Life Timeline
1581
Born April 26 in Pouy, near Dax, France
1576
VINCENT de PAUL (St) C
1660
VINCENT de PAUL (St) C
1633
riests of the Mission, Congregatio Missionis)
1737
ous feature of Catholic life
1660
Died β September 27, 1660 AD, Paris
1737
Canonized β 1737 by Pope Clement XII
β Biography
VINCENT de PAUL (St) C.R.M. July 19 1576-1660. Born either at Pouy, near Dax, France or at Tamarite, in Aragon, Spain, he studied with distinction at Sara- gossa and at Toulouse and was ordained priest at the age of twenty. He fell into the hands of corsairs and was taken cap- tive to Tunis but contrived to escape and went to Paris. Here, under the guidance of Berulle, he embarked upon his life work of active charity. No one was excluded from his ministrations: he organized relief for all: abandoned orphans, sick children, fallen women, the poor, the destitute, the blind, the insane. He began to preach missions and retreats and enlisted for this work a number of priests whom he grouped into a new religious institute: the Lazar- ists, or Vincentians (Priests of the Mission, Congregatio Missionis). In 1633 he or- ganized the congregation of the Sisters of Charity, who have been ever since a world- wide and glorious feature of Catholic life. He was canonized in 1737 and has been declared patron saint of all societies de- voted to works of charity.
Cf. P. de U. β Att. β Holw. β Baud.
VINCENT (St) M. R.M. July 24 ? A Roman, martyred outside the walls of the city on the road to Tivoli.
Cf. Holw. β Baud.
OF SAINTS
VINCENT (St) M. See
π‘ Patronage
Patron of: Charity, charitable organizations, the poor, orphans, and slaves.
π¬ Words of the Saint
The poor are our masters.
π Key Facts
Born
April 26, 1581, Pouy, near Dax, France
Died
September 27, 1660 AD, Paris
Feast Day
Sep 27
Canonized
1737 by Pope Clement XII
π Legacy
The Vincentians and Daughters of Charity serve in 100+ countries. St. Vincent de Paul Society is one of the world's largest charity organizations. He modernized Christian charity and made it systematic.
π Personal Writings
Read excerpts from the saint's own words β their personal letters, spiritual writings, and teachings.
π Conferences
On Charity
Charity is not a sentiment, but a virtue. It is not a feeling, but an action. It is not a mood, but a habit. It is the love of God and the love of neighbor. It is the fulfillment of the law, the sum of all virtues, the perfection of the Christian life.
β St. Vincent de Paul