The intention of this book is to offer to the faithful a model of the Christian Life in the acts, virtues and words of Saint Vincent de Paul. The title is "A Christian trained to Virtue and Refinement according to the Spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul." The works of this Saint brought him in touch with almost every condition of life - the humblest as well as the most elevated - but his virtue shone in an heroic degree on every occasion.
We have added "and Refinement" because, having dealings with persons of the noblest rank, with them all he knew how to put in practice the maxims and behaviour most becoming to a Christian who is formed according to the Gospel; "according to the Spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul" because all the quotations in this book are drawn, word for word, from his Life, and from the book called "The Spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul." We have only added a few texts from Holy Scripture, upon which these maxims are founded.
At the head of the book a short resume of the life of the Saint will be like an index of the thoughts to be developed at greater length afterwards.
May God, Who has raised up Saint Vincent as a flaming torch to carry the light of Truth amongst civilized nations, Who willed to call from the people a simple, unknown man, to place him amid His princes so that his heroic virtues might change the aspect of France, and of the whole of Europe; may God grant that the same charity and the same zeal may be kindled in the hearts of ecclesiastics, so that they may become tireless in their efforts for the salvation of souls; may zeal and charity also inflame the hearts of the people, so that, being enlightened by the virtues of the Saint and attracted by the good example of holy priests, they may advance rapidly on the road to the true happiness of Heaven.
- Don Bosco
Archbishop's House, Westminster, London
The words of a Saint about a Saint are doubly precious and. I earnestly beg God to bless this book and the translator, in which the Blessed Don Bosco recalls the virtues of the Saint whom he imitated with such fidelity in so many ways.
Cardinal Francis Alphonsus Bourne
Archbishop of Westminster, England
Feast of the Assumption, 1933
Saint Thomas of Aquin, historians relate, had come one day to call on Saint Bonaventure. He was told that his Franciscan friend was just then busy on his Life of Saint Francis. He withdrew at once. "Let us leave," he said, "the Saint, depicting a Saint." This story naturally forces itself upon the mind of everyone who casts a glance upon this estimation of Saint Vincent by Blessed Don Bosco. But Don Bosco did not attempt penning a Life of his hero; his work was rather an "Introduction to the Devout Life "according to Saint Vincent, and culled from the latter's own writings and biography. Long known and highly appreciated in its original harmonious language, it now comes in English garb at an opportune time. On this Centennial of Ozanam's great foundation, all the world is resounding with the praises of Saint Vincent de Paul, and the coincidal appearance (1932) of the most recent Life of the Apostle of Charity, rivets our gaze on le Grand Saint dur Grand Siecle. On the other hand, is not the Catholic world looking eagerly towards the hoped-for Canonization of Blessed Don Bosco? Most timely and happy, therefore, was the determination of giving to the English-speaking world the fruit of the meditations of the Piedmontese charity-worker upon the Life and teachings of his French hero and model.
Ill would it become me to state to what extent the "Sister of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul," who has undertaken this labour of love, has entered, in her translation, into the Spirit of the two great Servants of God; suffice it to aver, she has well deserved of both, and of Him who is Charity.
Father Charles L. Souvay, C.M.
Superior General of the Priests of the Mission, and of the Sisters of Charity
- text taken from Virtue and Christian Refinement According to the Spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul, by Saint John Bosco