Patron - St. Vincent de Paul

This great Saint of the Catholic Church (1581-1660) is the patron of the Society and was the inspiration for Frederic Ozanam who founded the Society in 1833, two hundred and fifty years after Vincent's birth.

Ambition ruled Vincent's early years in the priesthood. The secret to Vincent's public achievements over the last thirty-five years of his life (1625-1660) was to be found in that slow evolution of the ambitious young priest into the man of prayer and obedience to God's will, who was to found the Congregation of the Mission in 1625.

Vincent was born at Pouy in the south of France in 1581. His father encouraged and helped him toward the priesthood, to which he was ordained on September 23, 1600 at the age of nineteen. His initial goals, however, were self-centered and avaricious - to secure a bishopric and a large pension on which he could support his family. Yet all his hopes, even after two trips to Rome, promises of a bishopric, and money from a will, came to nothing.

During his search for position and wealth, Vincent was captured at sea and became a slave of four different masters for the next two years. In some ways, his physical trials proved as arduous as his interior journey from self to God.

Empty-handed in his quest for the rewards of a Church benefice, he came to Paris in 1609 where he was to make his home for the next fifty-one years. A spiritual renewal was underway and Vincent became acquainted with the people who were spearheading it, especially Cardinal Pierre de Berulle, whom he took as his spiritual director and Father Andre Duval who was to be his "wise man" and counselor during the next three decades.

Duval introduced Vincent to the Rule of Perfection by the English Capuchin monk, Benet of Canfield. It was from Canfield that Vincent learned the deepest meanings of doing the will of God and the importance of waiting for God to lead. It was from him he learned the words, "Do not tread on the heels of Providence. " Finally, Vincent met (later Saint) Francis de Sales who captured his heart with his gentleness and love.

Vincent's arrival in Paris was a taming point in his spiritual journey. Ambition was receding, attention to God and vocation were beginning to grow. He wasn't in Paris long when he was accused of stealing money from the judge with whom he shared living quarters. Vincent was innocent, but did not defend himself. He was accused publicly and put out of the apartment. It was a humiliation to him, yet he remained silent. Some years later the real thief confessed. This episode reveals Vincent surrender of self-advancement and public image and an emerging resemblance to his silent Master.

Though Vincent was always serious, joy and happiness flooded his life when he became pastor of a parish for the first time in 1612. He was sent to the church of Saint Medard in Clichy, a poor parish northwest of Paris. He loved the pastoral ministry, because the poor people of the parish touched his heart. He called forth a new life of faith and practice from the people, and for himself he experienced the priesthood in a way he had not known. In less than a year, however, he was recalled to Paris to become tutor and chaplain to the de Gondi family and their children. Sad to leave Clichy, he was to find the de Gondis would be important in discovering his true vocation.

In 1617, without knowing it, Vincent preached the first sermon of the Mission on the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul in the parish church in Folleville. He was led to it by the state of spiritual neglect among the peasants on the estates of the de Gondi family. He preached on general confession. The people were deeply moved and, through the help of Jesuits from Amiens, many received the sacrament of reconciliation.

This experience had an unexpected and dramatic consequence. In the face of the spiritual need of the neglected peasants in the countryside, Vincent could no longer see himself confined to the service of a single family as chaplain and tutor. So he fled.

Vincent became the parish priest in Chatillon-les-Dombes in the east of France. The plight of the poor again called him. His ministry there showed forth the maturing shape of his pastoral spirit. He divided his day between visits to the people, especially the sick, and time in the church and rectory. Half the day Vincent spent among the people, visiting in their homes. He was very much the apostle, going about the town. The other half he was at home, studying, reading, praying. In this time, he learned the dialect of the region and soon he was able to teach catechism in it.

In August 1617, as he was preparing for Sunday Mass, that news came to him of the illness and destitution of an entire family in the parish. He preached on their need during the Mass and the response that afternoon of the people was overwhelming. Vincent called a meeting of women interested in this matter. He urged them to put order into their generosity by taking turns. They decided to establish a group that would be called the Confraternity of Charity.

His style of working with them was remarkable. He was a collaborator with them, helped them do what they agreed on and drew up the charter. While he made his contribution, they organized themselves with great local autonomy. Vincent exhibited the same style of collaborative leadership later when he assisted and inspired the priests of Paris to organize themselves. On one occasion he discussed the need for a patron with the women. He advised, "Let us make Jesus our patron. " He also wrote in the Rules of the Confraternity that when the women offered bread and soup to the sick person, they should offer it in the name of Jesus. Vincent in this crucial year of 1617 was getting more and more in touch with Jesus at a personal level.

Vincent was pressured to return to the de Gondi family in Paris. The family agreed that he would no longer be tutor to the children and that he would be free to preach the missions in the towns and villages. Vincent, with other interested priests, did this for the next seven years. He was also made Chaplain of the Galleys, responsible for the spiritual well being of the galley slaves.

In late 1624 or early 1625, Madame de Gondi set aside money for a community to preach the missions and asked Vincent to find a community to do so. None could be found that were willing and able. His mentor, Fr. Duval, counseled that the will of God seemed evident: Vincent was being called by God to do it himself. Vincent accepted the call and founded the Congregation of the Mission in April of 1625.

Together with Louise de Marillac, Vincent developed a new form of charity evolved in the way of loving the poor and in recognizing the gift of poor people and the mystery of Jesus in them. The poor, whom Jesus called "blessed" and whom Vincent called "our masters and teachers," were treated as privileged mediators of redeeming grace.

Louise died March 15, 1660 and Vincent followed her on September 27 the same year. After his death, Vincent was honored as the father of his country. The Catholic Church named him Patron Saint of all Charitable Works as well as the Light of the Clergy. Louise was honored by Pope John XXIII in 1960 as the Patroness of all Christian social workers. "It is not enough for me to love God, if my neighbor does not also love God." (St. Vincent de Paul)