VINCENTS CHILDHOOD

24, 1581, in a remote village of Pouy, Landes, France near the border of Spain. In Vincent de Paul's youth there was no known shrine to our Blessed Mother in the region of Pouy, neither at Buglose nor in a tree as pictured here. Nevertheless, he had for Mary a tender, filial devotion and wished that this devotion be one of the most sacred traditions of his sons and daughters.

It was in the 16th century when France was terribly ravaged by political and religious wars when Vincent de Paul, who later an ardent Apostle of Charity, was born. That was on April

YOUNG VINCENT
Fortunately, the Franciscans had a secondary school or college in nearbyDax. It was there that the young Vincent went. Vincent's devotion to Mary was also evident when he sang the SALVE REGINA to the Greek Orthodox wife of one of his masters in Tunis. "God always kept alive in me that I would be freed because of my unceasing prayers to Him and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, through whose sole intercession I firmly believe I was delivered."

Jean de Paul, Vincent's father, had decided on an ecclesiastical career for his son, and that meant that the boy had to be educated.

VINCENTS PRIESTHOOD

On 19 September 1598, Vincent was ordained a sub deacon and three months later, 19 December, a deacon, both times by the same bishop of Tarbes who had given him tonsure and minor orders. The see of Dax was still without a bishop at the time of both these ordinations, and so the
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dimissorial letters were issued by the vicar general. Dimissorials for the priesthood were issued on 13 September 1599, also by the vicar general of Dax. Itseems plausible that Vincent's intention was to be ordained at the following Quarter Tense (Ember Days), the traditional time for such ordinations. He waited more than a year, however, before seeking ordination. When he did so, he did not go to the newly installed bishop of Dax, his own ordinary, nor even to the neighboring bishop of Tarbes. Rather, he went to some distance and inconvenience to receive ordination from Francois de Bourdeilles, bishop of Perigueux. The ceremony was performed in the bishop's private chapel in what is now the village of Chateau-l'Eveque on 23 September 1600.

MISSION
1617First Mission.

"Madame, were it not for this general confession I would have been damned." A dying peasant had wanted to see Vincent, who suggested to him a general confession. Later, in the presence of Madame de Gondi, on whose estates he lived, the peasant admitted

publically his many sacrilegious confessions and the great sins of his past life. The Lady thereupon resolved to establish the preaching of missions on her estates. On January 15, 1617, at her urging, her chaplain preached in the church of Folleville to persuade the local people to make a general confession. Subsequently, Madame de Gondi established a fund of 6,000 livres to entice a community to preach missions on all her estates every five years. Thus began the apostolate of preaching missions to whose value Vincent was most committed.

Guided Visitation Sisters

1619Visitation Nuns.

The widow Jane Frances Frmiot de Chantal and the saintly Bishop of Geneva, Francis de Sales, came to Paris in order to establish there a monastery of the Visitation Order they had founded. While in Paris (1619-1622) they became acquainted with Vincent de Paul, whom she and Francis de Sales judged to be the best qualified and most capable person to assume charge of the Visitation in Paris. Reluctant though Vincent was, the Archbishop
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Jean-Franois de Gondi, urged by Saint Jane Frances, commanded him to assume the office of Superior and Spiritual Father of the Visitation in the city of Paris (1622). Throughout her life (d. 1641) Saint Jane Frances kept in close contact with Monsieur Vincent, whom she consulted for her spiritual direction and with regard to the business affairs of her Order. Except for the eighteen months (16461647) when he balked at this responsibility, Saint Vincent remained Superior and Spiritual Father for the Visitation in Paris. Under his spiritual guidance the nuns lived in great simplicity and a sovereign contempt of the world, without artifice or guile, obedient both in heart and mind, and perfectly united.

Ministered to Galleys
1619Galley Slaves.

Philippe-Emmanuel de Gondi, General of the Galleys of France, urged Louis XIII to appoint Vincent de Paul Chaplain General of the Galleys, with all the rights and honors of an officer of the line. Appointed February 8, 1619, Vincent had full authority to visit the galleys, to establish that all on board were carrying out their duties: convicts, chaplains, jailers, and even physicians.
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He supervised the bodily and spiritual needs of the convicts. He visited in Paris those awaiting transport to the galleys; had hospitals built in Paris and Marseilles for them-the contract of April 17, 1625, which gave birth to the Congregation of the Mission, mandated that spiritual assistance to the galley slaves was one of the duties of the new Community. Legend has itbased on vague and fragile proof, hearsay informationthat in Marseilles the Saint, moved by the plight of a convict forced to abandon wife and children to a life of abject poverty, convinced the authorities to allow the Chaplain General to replace the convict. When later questioned, M. Vincent merely smileshrugged his shoulders we might say.

Established Missions.

three other priests on September 4, 1617, pledging 1) to strive for one's own perfection by exerting every effort to practice the virtues which the sovereign Master has been pleased to teach us by word and example; 2) to preach the gospel to the poor, especially the country people; 3) to help ecclesiastics in acquiring the knowledge and virtues necessary for their state. On March 1, 1624 Saint Vincent had accepted as a gift from the Archbishop of Paris the College des Bons-Enfants. This became the base for this new association. The Missionaries brought to this work what Saint Vincent called the core virtues of a Vincentian: simplicity, humility, meekness, mortification and zeal for souls. Established Seminaries.

From 1617 to 1625 M. Vincent was among those who evangelized the towns, villages, and hamlets scattered throughout the de Gondi estates. On April 17, 1625, she contracted with M. Vincent to establish a Community which would made missions its life's work The Congregation of the Mission for which she endowed a fund for its permanent support. Vincent formed an association with
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"If you, Excellency, give orders that no one will be admitted to Holy Orders without spending six months in your seminary, in fifteen years you will have the consolation of seeing that the face of your clergy has changed." That change would affect the rest of the diocese: "People forget what they have been taught and the good resolutions they have taken if they do not have suitable pastors to maintain them in the good
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state in which they have been placed." Saint Vincent contributed to the reform of the clergy in two ways. In the beginning many clerics who wished to receive Holy Orders presented themselves fifteen days beforehand to be instructed in their obligations and the functions of their Order. Vincent became more inclined to proceed with the establishment of a two year program in which men were trained in virtue, prayer, divine service, administration of the Sacraments, catechism, cases of conscience, preaching, and other necessary parts of theological studies. At the time of the Saint's death (1660), the Congregation of the Mission conducted eleven such seminaries.

Ladies of Charity.

forty or fifty in number, comprised the Confraternity of Charity of the Htel-Dieu founded in 1633. "Their charity is not so limited, but is extended to different places and in several ways, according to public needs. For some years they have been helping the poor folk on the frontiers and have assisted those in the environs of Paris during the wars." Saint Vincent led them to undertake several important services: abandoned children and the support of the foreign missions. In 1656 Saint Vincent wrote to Jean Martin in Turin: "There are two sorts of Ladies in Paris who have joined together to assist the poor. The first are those in the parishes who take care of the sick and have some kind of regulations for doing this in a useful and orderly manner." The first parish Confraternity of Charity began in 1617all were the practical result of a parish mission. The other group,
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Ever the astute organizer, the Saint combined their spiritual growth with the regular meetings of these Ladies, and through a published bulletin, the Relations, he let others know of the work of all these devout and devoted Ladies. Cofounded Daughters St. Louise de Marillac.

that Vincent averred that the work of the Confraternities of Charity and the Ladies of Charity could not really succeed without their aid. Under the title of Confraternity of Charity of the Servants of the Sick Poor, this young Company, with the approbation of the Archbishop of Paris given on January 18, 1655, officially established itself, August 8, 1655. Wherever they worked, in parishes, in various hospitals, with the galley slaves, those wounded in battle, with the foundlings-in a word, in all the areas of spiritual and corporal welfare of God's poor-they brought with them the virtues instilled in them by M. Vincent and MIle Le Gras: charity, humility, and simplicity, the signs of a Daughter of Charity. Establishes Hospitals.

The work of the parish Confraternities of Charity, begun by Saint Vincent, was completed by Mademoiselle Le Gras, Saint Louise de Marillac, who, under the direction of M. Vincent, visited the various Charities in and around Paris. To assisthem she gathered some country girls at her own house (November 29, 1633) and trained them to assist the Charities. So important did they become
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Besides parishes where they nursed the sick poor in their homes, the Daughters of Charity worked in five hospitals in Paris and eight outside the city; in many of them Vincentians were the chaplains. Saint Vincent wrote to Jean Martin in 1657: "In Paris they are trying to establish a large hospice where all the poor beggars will be fed, instructed, and
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given something to do and will no longer be seen around the city nor in the churches." The Vincentians and Daughters of Charity were given its direction by Royal decree and the approval of the Archbishop. In 1653 an anonymous rich merchant gave M. Vincent a hundred thousand livres for a good work of the Saint's choice. He started the Nomde-Jesus hospice for male and female artisans who could no longer earn a living because of age or infirmity. The contract stipulated that Saint Vincent would provide spiritual directors from among his confreres.

VINCENTS LEGACY

Today, Saint Vincent urges all his family as he did those in his day: serve the Lord corporally and spiritually in the person of the poor, now in the guise of a child, in that of the homeless, in the sick, and as prisoners. In a word, as he, with tender love and paternal care, became a sort of general overseer of help to the poor wherever they were, so should we as we strive to emulate him.

The principal concern of St. Vincent de Paul was to serve the poor. He said, Those who love the poor in life will have nothing to fear in death.

CHRISTIAN MESSAGE
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St. Vincent de Paul told to the Daughters of Charity: "It is not only the priest who offers up the Holy Sacrifice but also those who are present, and I feel quite sure that when you have been well-instructed, you will have great devotion to the Mass, for it is the center of devotion."

Prayer is to be the beginning and preparation for the day. It is not enough for us to celebrate Mass. We should also offer this sacrifice with the greatest possible devotion. Let us strive to offer our Masses to God in the same spirit as Jesus Christ offered Himself, and as perfectly as our poor and miserable nature permits.

PRAYER POOR

FOR THE

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our society. May we become like St. Vincent de Paul who never get tired of helping the poor and needy persons. May we continue flaming our hearts with the Vincentian spirit to remind us always what St. Vincent de Paul has taught us. Lord, protect our brothers and sisters who are in the midst of war, crisis, or calamity. Give them enough strength and courage that despite all these trials You are always there to guide and bless them. Dear God, We thanked You for giving us St. Vincent de Paul who loved the poor very much. He is our inspiration to love You more through our homeless brothers and sisters, sick people, All these we pray in the loving name of Jesus. Amen.

abandoned children, and abused men and women of

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Gathers Foundlings.

It has been estimated that some three hundred / four hundred babies were abandoned every year in Paris. Thanks to the efforts of Saint Vincent de Paul, these abandoned infants took on a new lease in life. At his request the Ladies of Charity of the Htel-Dieu in 1638 assumed the responsibility for these children- aided by the Daughters of Charity. By
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1640 they were able to accept all foundlings brought to them. Thirteen houses (Treize-maisons) on the Champ-Saint-Laurent, near Saint-Lazare, were opened for them in 1645; in 1647 the Foundling Hospital called Bictre received these abandoned children. The cost of this work can be gleaned from Saint Vincent's talk to the Ladies of Charity at their General Assembly in 1647. M. Vincent enquired: Should the Company of the Ladies of Charity continue or abandon the work on behalf of the foundlings? He examined reasons for and against and reminded them of the good that had so far been accomplished. He concluded: "So now, Ladies, sympathy and charity led you to adopt these little creatures as your children, you have been their mothers according to grace, ever since their mothers according to nature abandoned them; reflect now whether you, too, intend to abandon them. Cease to be their mothers and become their judges; their life and
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death are in your hands; I am now about to collect your opinions and votes; the time has come to pronounce their sentence and to see if you still desire to have mercy on them. They will live if you continue to take charitable care of them, and, on the contrary, they will infallibly die and perish, if you abandon them; experience does not allow you to think otherwise." The Ladies pronounced sentence, and it was a sentence of mercy. They unanimously resolved to continue to assist the foundlings.

Aids the poor Provinces Aids the poor Provinces.

Saint Vincent entrusted his Missionaries with the distribution of relief. Some sixteen priests and eighteen Brothers were involved in the relief of the devastated Provinces. Of these Brothers Jean Parre and Mathieu Rgnard are noteworthy; they were two of the most intelligent and active instruments that Divine Providence placed in the Saint's hands. Parre traveled all over Picardy and Champagne assessing needs and delivering relief from the Ladies of Charity: distributed money to repair churches and stipends for Masses; supplied farmers with seed and implements; workmen with tools; cloths were distributed. Rgnard was the principal distributor of alms in Lorraine. His daring, composure, and savoir-faire made him invaluable to the Saint. Regnard made some fifty-three trips to Lorraine, carrying sums of money each time varying between
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"We have had so much misery in the very heart of France. What must be the state of these poor people living on the frontier," Saint Vincent said to his confreres in 1655. Wars beset Europe (Thirty Years War) and France suffered from the Fronde (1648-1652). These upheavals left them "in a state of wretchedness and misery. If they sowed, they had no certainty of reaping; armies arrived and pillaged."

20,000 and 50,000 livres--he always arrived safely at his destination with his treasures; never waylaid by bandits or soldiers. The Ladies of Charity worked with tireless charity, at unbelievable expense, helping these afflicted by the scourge of war. The RELATIONS they published reports of needs, how alleviated, and thank you notes-provide us with a kaleidoscope of what the Ladies and Missionaries did for the devastated Provinces.

Houses Homeless Girls Houses Homeless Girls.

War, plague, and famine were wrecking havoc on the devastated Provinces, as already mentioned. A good number of people from there came to Paris counting on fighting destitution more easily there. Saint Vincent wrote: "Paris is swarming with poor persons because the armies have forced the country folk to seek refuge here. Meetings are held daily to see if they can be helped. A few houses have been
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rented where some of them have been housed, particularly, poor girls." Some of the older girls were tempted to sell themselves rather than starve. Several religious communities were on the verge of breaking their cloister to seek food. In 1639 Saint Vincent wrote to Saint Louise: "Here are three poor people from Lorraine who arrived yesterday evening. One woman has a child. We shall try to get her a place at the Refuge." It was ordinarily a place of involuntary shelter for women and girls who were judged to be leading a disorderly life. In 1652 some 20,000 refugees were wandering the streets, living in questionable places, staying with relatives. "We have a hundred in one house in the Faubourg SaintDenis. We are going to rescue from the same danger the nuns from the country." These relief efforts lasted some seven more years.
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Tuesday Conferences Tuesday Conferences.

To serve ongoing education and the spiritual development of priests selected for their proven holiness and learning M.

Vincent initiated what came to be called in Paris the Tuesday Conferences. They proved to be another integral part in the Tridentine reform of the clergy in which Vincent took part. The Saint wrote: "The goal of this assembly is to attend to their own perfection; to make the means of seeing that God be not offended, but that He be known and served in their households; and to procure His glory among ecclesiastics and the poor." To do this members committed themselves to meet every Tuesday at Saint-Lazare or the BonsEnfants to honor the life of Christ the Eternal Priest; to celebrate Mass daily and confess once a week to a regular confessor; to make a spiritual retreat annually; to spend some time each day in mental prayer and Divine Office; to read the New Testament; to make an examination of conscience; to attend the funeral of members; and to offer three Masses for the souls of deceased members.
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The Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, M. Vincent, or his delegate, directed the Conference at Saint-Lazare. Similar Conferences, modeled on that of Saint-Lazare, were organized in dioceses throughout France and Italy. The distinguishing features of these meetings were their simplicity and the humility and charity of the members. More that 250 priests attended during Saint Vincent's lifetime.

Council of Conscience Council of Conscience.

Queen unsuccessfully to dispense with his services. During the ten years of his tenure in this office, Saint Vincent never missed an occasion to prevent unworthy men from obtaining dioceses and benefices, and he worked for the preservation of the faith and discipline. Of all the questions considered by the Council of Conscience, the Saint believed that none equaled in importance the choice of bishops. The good of the Church and the well being of souls outweighed any political and personal considerations. M. Vincent often opposed Cardinal Mazarin's view-they were pursuing different and often contrary goals. When the Queen selected a nominee for a bishopric, Saint Vincent then spoke to the bishop-elect of his duties. The Queen wrote to one such bishop: "I beg you to be good enough to see M. Vincent, who will be quite pleased to place his knowledge and wisdom at
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Prior to their deaths (1642 and 1643), Monsieur Vincent had advised Cardinal Richelieu and Louis XIII on the appointment of bishops. Created by the QueenRegent, Anne of Austria, in 1643, the Royal Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs Council of Conscience discussed and decided all questions dealing with religion in.France. The Queen presided and appointed the members. Vincent accepted his nomination with great reluctance, begging the

your disposal in all matters regarding this function." Thanks to Saint Vincent, many dioceses and abbeys were governed by pastors animated by an apostolic zeal that formed a striking contrast with the worldliness of their seniors in the episcopacy.

Anne of Austria Anne of Austria.

The Queen-Regent had conceived a profound admiration for Vincent de Paul, put her trust in him, and profited by the advice which he gave her for the good of her soul and the welfare of the State. But at the same time the relationship of the Anne of Austria and Cardinal Mazarin, the Prime Minister, was troubling. Parlement, the nobility, and the people wanted Mazarin
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oustedwere ready to do anything to bring about Mazarin's dismissal," even the civil war called the Fronde. "I left Paris on the fourteenth of this month (January 1649)," wrote Saint Vincent to Antoine Portail, "to go to Saint-Germain with the intention of rendering some small service to God, but my sins rendered me unworthy of this." He described the dreadful misery in Paris and told the Queen clearly that the most efficacious remedy for the Fronde was to dismiss her Minister. He spoke just as frankly to Mazarin. Saint Vincent could not return to Paris because the Queen became angry with anybody who suggested that she capitulate and the people conjured up some betrayal by M. Vincent. For some five months he visited the various Community houses in France-exiled from Paris. In May 1652 the Saint wrote, "I have not seen the Queen in six or seven months." On
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September 11, 1652 he wrote to Mazarin urging him to bring the Queen and the young King back to Paris. The people were clamoring for the Queen and King: "There is no one anywhere who does not say the same thing to me." Saint Vincent's frankness did not please Mazarin who informed Vincent that his presence was no longer needed at the Council of Conscience.

Common Rules Distribution of Common Rules.

the

On Friday evening, May 17, 1658, after a discourse on Observance of the Rules, the holy Founder had the happiness of distributing to his confreres the precious little book which would supply them with means of sanctifying themselves and their fellow man-the Common Rules approved by the Archbishop of Paris, Jean-Franois-Paul de Gondi.
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There is "nothing in them that you have not already practiced for a long time." General Assemblies in 1641 and 1651 discussed Rules; M. Vincent sought the advice of theologians and renowned canonists, man of whom were in prominent positions in Rome. Throughout there is evidence of the prudence, moderation, charity, and zeal with which he prepared the Rules of the Congregation. He would write, "The Rules and Constitutions are produced not by the human mind but rather by God's inspiration." "We have attempted to base these Rules totally on the spirit of Jesus Christ and to draw them from a consideration of His life." "They help us to procure the salvation of souls, to serve the Church, and to give glory to God."

Vincent receives Viaticum Vincent receives Viaticum.

however, until the day of his death, hobbling from his room to the chapel with the help of crutches; in August he consented to having a chair made so that he could be carried to the infirmary chapel for Mass. Seeing his end approaching, the Saint disposed himself interiorly. On Sunday, September 26, he had himself carried to the chapel for Mass and Holy Communion. The effort he had made exhausted his strength, and on his return to his room he was beset by drowsiness. That evening he was asked if would like to receive the Last Sacraments. He replied with a simple "yes," and Father Jean Dehorgny administered them At 4:45 on the morning of September 27, without any convulsions or struggle, he breathed his last. God called him to Himself. He died, sitting in his chair, close to the fire, fully dressed, by a seeming gradual weakening of nature, "like a lamp going out as the oil is used up."
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By 1660 M. Vincent's legs became so bad that he was no longer able to offer Mass. He continued to attend,

The family of Saint Vincent is blessed with a journal of the last days of M. Vincent written by M. Jean Gicquel.

Attestation of the sanctity of Vincent de Paul began in due course and two hundred and ninety witnesses gave evidence at the beatification process. On August 13, 1729, Benedict XIII inscribed him in the catalogue of the Blessed; Pope Clement XII proclaimed his sainthood on June 10, 1737. In 1883, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was preparing to celebrate the golden jubilee of its foundation by Frederick Ozanam. A Papal Brief, issued on June 22 of that year, proclaimed: "Yielding to the wishes of all and desiring to arouse the devotion of the faithful for this hero of charity, we declare Saint Vincent de Paul special patron with God of all charitable associations which in any degree whatsoever .emanate from him and are to be found in French territory." Saint Vincent was to be recognized and venerated throughout France and its dependencies as patron of
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Patron of Charity Patron of Charity.

all pious associations and works of Christian charity declared Pope Leo XIII. At the urging of Antoine Fiat, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission and the Company of the Daughters of Charity, petitions from bishops from around the world were sent to Romethey requested that Saint Vincent's patronage be extended to all countries. Faced with this flood of petitions, the Holy See realized that the moment had come to consider universal patronage of all works of charity. Pope Leo XIII declared him such on May 12, 1885.

In Vincent de Paul's youth there was no known shrine to our Blessed Mother in the region of Puy, neither at Buglose nor in a tree as pictured here. Nevertheless, he had for Mary a tender, filial devotion and wished that this devotion be one of the most sacred traditions of his sons and daughters. Vincent wrote to his sons in 1656: "The practice of wearing the rosary on one's belt is always observed in this house. I think it will be
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well for you to maintain in your house the custom of wearing a rosary on the belt or to introduce it if it does not already exist." In another place he declared, "It is a holy and edifying custom." He told the Daughters of Charity: "The rosary is a most efficacious prayer when it is said well. . . . It is your breviary."

your have been wellinstructed, you will have great devotion to the Mass, for it is the center of devotion." "The principal concern of this charitable priest was to serve the poor. "Those who love the poor in life will have nothing to fear in death."

Prayer is to be the beginning and preparation for the day he told his sons and daughters. "It is not enough for us to celebrate Mass; we should also offer this sacrifice with the greatest possible devotion. Let us strive to offer our Masses to God in the same spirit as Jesus Christ offered Himself, and as perfectly as our poor and miserable nature permits." To the Daughters of Charity he said: "It is not only the priest who offers up the Holy Sacrifice but also those who are present, and I feel quite sure that when
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Today, Saint Vincent urges all his family as he did those in his day: serve the Lord corporally and spiritually in the person of the poor, now in the guise of a child, in that of the homeless, in the sick, and as prisoners. In a word, as he, with tender love and paternal care, became a sort of general overseer of help to the poor wherever they were, so should we as we strive to emulate him.

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