An Historical Epitome of the Life of Saint Vincent de Paul

Saint Vincent was born in 1576 in the village of Pouy, not far from the Pyrenees, in the diocese of Dax, of poor parents, but pious and esteemed, who gained their livelihood by working in the fields. From his childhood he was occupied in tending cattle. His father, who had noticed the child's excellent nature and his inclination for study, managed, though not without difficulty, to have him educated at Dax, the neighbouring town. Saint Vincent made such progress in his studies that at the age of seventeen he was engaged by a lawyer as tutor for his children. It was whilst he was training the minds of his privileged pupils that Saint Vincent felt himself called by God to the ecclesiastical state. He therefore received Minor Orders, and, with the consent of his family, he went first to Toulouse, and then to Saragossa. He studied dogma and moral philosophy in these celebrated Universities for seven years. Being then promoted to the sub-diaconate, the diaconate, and finally ordained priest, he was given a benefice, with charge of souls. But, the right of possession having been contested, he resigned in favour of his opponent, not only because he regarded a lawsuit as displeasing to God in His servants, but especially because, in his humility, he believed himself incapable of carrying such a heavy burden and considered it a still greater benefit to be released from it.

Some important affairs having called him to Marseilles, he afterwards embarked for Narbonne. During this short crossing he was seized by some pirates, who carried him off to Barbary, where he toiled as a slave under several masters. Finally Providence willed that he should be sold to a renegade from Nice. This man was married to a Turkish woman who, in the designs of God, was intended to deliver her husband from apostasy, and Saint Vincent from his unhappy slavery.

This woman, evidently moved by God, became curious to know about the Christian Mysteries and Morality, and from time to time she came to inquire of the Saint whilst he was labouring in the fields. Fascinated with the sweet teachings of the Faith, and with all that Saint Vincent told her about the greatness and goodness and justice of the only true God; touched also by the hymns and canticles which she heard Saint Vincent singing, she grew so fond of the Religion of Jesus Christ that she herself became a Christian and persuaded her husband to quit the errors of Mohammedanism and re-enter the bosom of the Church.

Saint Vincent, on his side, multiplied his prayers, fasts and austerities, and never wearied in instilling encouraging thoughts into the mind of his master, until the favourable moment arrived for them to take their flight from Africa. Embarking on a frail vessel, a favourable wind brought them to the coast of France, where they landed on July 28th, 1607. They went to Avignon, where they received charitable hospitality from Mgr. the Vice-Legate, who took them with him to Rome. This Bishop provided for the needs of the two converts. Having remarked the holiness and the wisdom of Saint Vincent, he kept him in his own household and treated him with affection and liberality.

After having given free vent to his devotion in the Capital of Christendom, he recommended himself to Saints Peter and Paul, the Princes of the Apostles, as he visited the most celebrated sanctuaries of Rome. Then Vincent thanked his benefactor and directed his steps towards Paris. There, under the protection and direction of the celebrated Cardinal Peter de Berulle, Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory, he accepted the office of tutor to the children of the General of the Galleys.

The Saint remained with this illustrious family in recollection and retirement, occupying himself solely with his duty, and never appearing before the master of the house unless called. Everybody loved and honoured him as an angel of peace, as a man descended from Heaven. Hearing of his virtue, the King nominated him Chaplain of the Galleys, and this employment pleased him on account of the great number of souls he could gain to God.

He found that these unfortunate galley slaves were more shackled with the weight of their sins than with their chains. He therefore used the most indefatigable kindness in dealing with them. He conversed in a friendly manner with them, taught them the maxims and truths of the Gospel, distributed little gifts amongst them and, little by little, was able to notice in them more patience and greater resignation; in fact, a notable change in their conduct.

He was so kind and affable to them that these poor prisoners readily confessed to him. He had tender compassion towards all; he practised so many acts of kindness towards them that they no longer felt the weight of their labours; the hardest hearts were touched in the end and all venerated him as a much loved father and were ready to follow his advice and submit to his will in everything.

Saint Francis of Sales chose him as Superior and Director of the Daughters of the Institute of the Visitation; there, under his guidance, the holy Rules were faithfully observed for thirty-eight years. And by his constancy and meekness he succeeded in fostering all that was good, so that the holy Bishop could not suppress the joy he felt, declaring that nowhere could a wiser man be found, nor a worthier priest.

Saint Vincent always showed special interest in the field labourers, either for the sake of bettering their hard life or for the salvation of their souls. So that he might never be short of workers to instruct these poor people and lead them into good ways he, with the approval of the Holy See, founded a Congregation of secular priests, under a vow to go from one market town to another, from village to village, preaching the Divine word to the country people and instructing them in Christian Doctrine without any remuneration whatever. This institute, which is called the "Congregation of the Lazarists," or the "Priests of the Mission," was solemnly approved by Pope Urban VIII in 1632.

Thanks to the co-operation of Saint Vincent ecclesiastical discipline took a new start and flourished again; thanks to his solicitude order reigned in the seminaries; the theological conferences were zealously attended; the Ordinandi had their preparatory Retreats; Saint Vincent ever kept an open door to all who wished to join these Retreats. When Louis XIII, who was assisted in his agony by Saint Vincent, had gone to his eternal rest, Queen Anne of Austria wished that the holy priest should be one of the four counsellors chosen by her to advise on ecclesiastical affairs. In these honourable duties the main thing Saint Vincent had at heart was to convince the members of this Council of their obligation of never nominating anyone to bishoprics, abbeys or parishes, except those persons who were worthy and capable of carrying out their duties faithfully.

The Christian slaves who were languishing in Barbary experienced the effects of his charity, as also children who were left homeless and abandoned; devout virgins and Religious, who had been dispersed and were in danger; young girls whose misery might have dragged them into evil; women of bad repute, prisoners, travellers, the infirm, the weak-minded, the invalid worker. In short, Saint Vincent came to the assistance of suffering humanity, he spared neither fatigues, nor labours, nor assiduous diligence in distributing alms, in setting up hospitals and charitable associations so thoroughly, that they still exist today, despite bitter opposition from enemies who would fain abolish them.

All shades of praise, applause or esteem horrified him; if anyone showed any sign of it the Saint knew well how to put it off by some word or act of humiliation and self-contempt. Someone who had received him at his house wished to accompany him to the door on leaving, but he said: "Do not put yourself about, for I am only the son of a poor villager, and kept flocks in my youth."

Another time a good woman asking for alms gave him the title of Monsignore. "Poor woman," he replied, "you little know me, and you are much mistaken; I am only a herdsman, the son of a poor villager."

One of his nephews, shabbily dressed, came to see him; the porter, having told Saint Vincent, the latter went quickly, embraced his nephew and brought him into the house. Then, having assembled his priests, he said to them: "My nephew, whom you see here, despite his bad clothes, is the most respectable member of the family," and, not being satisfied with this, he went out through Paris with him.

On every occasion the Saint showed himself full of humility, simplicity and uprightness. He always had a horror of honours, dignities, riches, conveniences or anything worldly. All his delight was in mortification and the practice of those virtues which might render him more agreeable to God.

Attenuated by penance, he died in Paris in the year 1660 in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

This is a short resumé of the Life of Saint Vincent de Paul, upon whose virtues we are going to meditate in this little book. Each one of the faithful will find here a mirror; ecclesiastics will find a rule and a guide; the man of the world an affectionate father, who will encourage him in all that is good, one who will advise him to flee from evil, will console him in his troubles and will inspire him with a spirit of moderation in pleasure and prosperity. In short, all will find in him a truly great man, who knew how to make himself all to all that he might gain all for Jesus Christ.

- text taken from Virtue and Christian Refinement According to the Spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul, by Saint John Bosco