Saint Vincent de Paul 24" - 2252

Saint Vincent de Paul was born to a poor peasant family in the French villageof Pouy on 24th April 1581. He was ordained in 1600 and in 1605, while on a ship traveling from Marseilles to Narbone, he was captured, brought to Tunis and sold as a slave. Two years later he and his master managed to escape and both returned to France. He spent his life preaching missions to and providing relief to the poor. He even established hospitals for them. This was at a time when there were not many priests in France and what priests there were, were neither well-formed nor faithful to their way of life. Vincent helped reform the clergy and the manner in which they were instructed and prepared for the priesthood. The Vincentians remain with us today with nearly 4,000 members in 86 countries. In addition to his order of Vincentian priests, St. Vincent cofounded the Daughters of Charity along with St. Louise de Marillac. There are more than 18,000 Daughters today serving the needs of the poor in 94 countries.

Feast day: 27th September.