Vincent de Paul was born to a poor peasant family in Pouy, France, on April 24, 1581. He did his formal education at school run by the Franciscans. As a bright student, he was hired to tutor the children of a nearby wealthy family. He used the tuition fees to finance his higher studies at Toulouse University, where he studied theology. His ordination took place on September 23, 1600.
In 1605, while traveling from Marseilles to Narbone, he was captured and sold as a slave in Tunis. Two years later, he managed to escape and returned to France. Fr. Vincent continued his studies in Avignon and later in Rome. He became a chaplain to the Count of Goigny and was tasked to distribute money to the deserving poor. He established hospitals and started providing relief to the poor. Inspired by the first Christians who were of one heart and mind (Acts 4:32), Fr. Vincent founded the Congregation of the Mission (1625), commonly referred to as the Vincentians. With Louise de Marillac, he co-founded the Daughters of Charity in 1633.
During the 17th century, there were not many priests in France, and the priests were neither well-formed nor faithful to their vocation. The Church was also ruined by corruption, violations of the requirements of celibacy and greed. He was one of those saints to help reform the clergy and restore the spiritual preparations for the priesthood. He did this through the retreats, which priests and laymen attended well. It is said he infused a Christian spirit among more than 20,000 attendees, so much so that he became the symbol of the successful reform of the French Church.
His life then became dedicated service with the motto: the Lord has sent me to bring the Good News to the poor (Luke 4:18). He was eighty years old when he died in Paris on September 27, 1660. Two miracles have been attributed to St. Vincent – a nun cured of ulcers and a laywoman cured of paralysis. As a result of the former, Pope Benedict XIII beatified him on August 13, 1729. On June 16, 1737, he was canonized by Pope Clement XIII. The Bull of Canonization recognized Vincent for his charity and reform of the clergy. Pope Leo XIII declared him the patron saint of all works of charity. St. Vincent is sometimes referred to as the Apostle of Charity and the Father of the Poor. On September 27, the Catholic Church celebrates his feast day as the patron of all charitable societies.
The Vincentians have nearly 4,000 members in 86 countries, while the Daughters of Charity has more than 18,000 members serving the needs of the poor in 94 countries. On April 23, 1833, Frédéric Ozanam and six companions founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) to serve the marginalized. The Society is a part of the Vincentian family. Among its varied efforts, the SSVP offers material help to the poor and needy.
The Society was officially started in India in 1863 when some conferences in Bombay were aggregated, and the Bombay Particular Council was instituted. It is now under the umbrella of the National Council of India, which has its headquarters in Mumbai and the President’s secretariat is at Thodupuzha in Kerala. Almost all the parishes in Goa have the SSVP helping the needy. In Taleigao parish, the SSVP serves ration to 73 families, including 36 Hindu brethren. Sometimes cash is also offered to take care of medical expenses.
On the occasion of the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, let us recall that whatever you do for one of these least brothers of mine, you do for me” (Matt 25:40). At the heart of the Vincentian family is the search for those who are the poorest and most abandoned and a deep awareness of being unworthy of rendering them our minor services.
(Dr Luis is a Scientist by profession and a freelance writer)
