The virtue which specially marks out a Christian is charity. Without this virtue, says Saint John, man is like a dead body, incapable of motion. Saint Paul calls it the most beautiful and the greatest of all the virtues, since it is charity which lifts man up to the angels.
This virtue was inseparable from all the works performed by Saint Vincent. He began to practise Charity whilst he was so young that one might say it was born in him. If he happened to meet anyone in distress he was greatly touched, and gave all that he possessed. Sometimes he deprived himself of his own food to give it to the poor. One day he came across one who seemed to him so pitiful that he gave him thirty coppers, which in itself is a modest sum, but was a considerable one for a child who had spent a long time in saving it up, bit by bit.
Such were Saint Vincent's first endeavours (he was only twelve years old) at practising that charity which, later on, was to operate such prodigies. We may mention here, in passing, that the Servant of God founded hospitals, associations of Charity, Confraternities of Ladies, and that by these different means he succeeded in procuring for an infinite number of poor, both sick and healthy, the help which they required.
Moreover, his great works, which were such a boon to the unfortunate, are still existing to this day. These pious foundations, which do so much honour to France and to Italy, express better than we can the very great charity of Saint Vincent. Those holy works revive and diffuse his spirit everywhere. Our own city of Turin glories in possessing one of these Refuges, dedicated to Saint Vincent de Paul, in which hundreds of poor, paralysed, insane, orphans, infirm, deaf mutes, etc., find comfort in their misery.
It is written of the holy man Job that he never refused the poor what they needed; that he never let the widow wait in vain; that he never ate his bread alone, but shared it with the orphan; that he never forgot to relieve those who, for want of clothing, were dying of cold. This is the portrait of our Saint. On hearing that half the population of Palaiseau were sick, and that ten or twelve persons were dying every day, and that this place was in need of a Priest and of all kinds of provisions, he immediately dispatched, at his own expense, four of his Priests with a doctor. Then nearly every day he sent a cart laden with flour, wine, meat and other provisions. Thus he spent all the money he possessed, and when he had nothing more to give he begged alms from the rich.
Scarcely had he provided for the needs of Palaiseau when the inundations on the borders of the Seine afforded an equally vast field for his charity. The inhabitants of a town, finding it impossible to leave their houses, were in great distress, and this was increased by the fact that they could not send out anyone to procure assistance. Saint Vincent, who knew the topographical situation of that country, and who guessed what had happened, did not wait to get more definite news, but immediately sent off a van laden with bread. He did the same thing next day, and as long as the floods lasted he never ceased to send relief. At the same time his Missioners, risking their fives on boats, went through all the flooded streets, distributing victuals to the inhabitants, who took them in through the windows of their houses whilst offering most fervent thanksgivings to their benefactors.
The charity of Saint Vincent was not confined to the necessities of the poor in the country; those in Paris and the suburbs had an equal share of his compassion and alms. It suffices to mention the numberless orphans whom he received at various times and maintained in Saint Lazare; the tramps to whom he distributed bread and money; those persons whose shame prevented them from asking alms (but whom Saint Vincent's charity knew how to seek out, and for whom he arranged that they should secretly receive money or provisions, according to their need); also the great number of poor to whom clothing was distributed, the prisoners he went to instruct, the charitable practice he introduced into Saint Lazare of having two poor old men every day at his table, etc. We must not omit the daily regular alms he gave from the very first existence of the Congregation; he had distributions made of bread, soup and money to all the families who sent begging for it; and after them, to all the poor who presented themselves, and whose number sometimes amounted to eight hundred.
To form a true idea of Saint Vincent's charity we must remember that at this period the House of Saint Lazare suffered considerable damage from the troops, who during the troublous times in Paris carried off everything which might be useful to them, and that several of Saint Vincent's farms were thus sacked and destroyed. Nevertheless he never ceased the daily distributions to the poor.
On the other hand, he had not acted like the prudent of this world, who are always careful to out aside a sum of money for unforeseen needs; oe would have thought that a want of confidence in the Providence of God. After having given away everything, his only expedient was to borrow that he might continue his good works.
Knowing all this, one will not be surprised to hear the following stories related:
A soldier who was quite unknown to Saint Vincent, having asked him to receive him into his house for a few days, fell ill there. Saint Vincent had him installed in a room with a fire, and nursed by a Brother of his Congregation until he was completely cured; that is to say, for the space of two months.
A carter having explained his difficulties through the loss of his horses, Saint Vincent immediately gave him one hundred francs. Another time he had only just received forty florins when he at once gave them to a poor man in great distress.
If he happened to meet with some unfortunate persons who had no shelter, he would take them up into the miserable carriage which his infirmities had obliged him to make use of and bring them to some lodging.
Sometimes debtors or tenants in straitened circumstances were liable to prosecution and expenses which they could not meet; the Saint found some benefactor to free them from their embarrassment. One might therefore justly call him the "Father of the Poor." He deserved this title, not only on account of the promptitude, universality and perseverance of his charity, but also for the sentiments of kindness and humility with which it was accompanied. "I am in trouble about our Community," he said one day, "but still more about the poor. What will become of them? I declare to you that they are a great burden and a great sorrow to my heart."
Such was his compassion for the poor. Could we be surprised by any kindness in a man who has done so much for them? Nevertheless, sometimes the surprising happens; for example, when we see him overwhelmed with business and not able to walk without pain, and yet going downstairs from his room to give some relief to poor women to whom he had promised to send it, and going on his knees to ask their pardon for having forgotten them for the moment.
Practice - It is impossible to admire all these brilliant proofs of touching charity and not feel ourselves drawn to do something similar. Let us be on our guard, however, lest, after this reading, all does not end in a passing emotion, but let our resolutions be practical; on the first occasion that offers let us show that we are responsive and at the same time charitable towards our neighbour who is obliged to have recourse to us.
- text taken from Virtue and Christian Refinement According to the Spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul, by Saint John Bosco