Vincent was born in France on April 24, 1581 during a time marred by war, disease, and poverty. As a young peasant boy, Vincent learned the meaning of hard work by tending the family livestock. His parents recognized that he was clever and creative, and sacrificed to send him to school.
Vincent also was ambitious. He wanted out of the peasant life and decided that the priesthood was the best way to acquire a career, security, and a respectable position in society. At age 19, he was ordained a priest and headed to Rome to complete his education. Throughout his 20s, Vincent’s attitude was, “What’s in it for me?” He often sought out wealthy benefactors.
In 1605, Vincent sailed from Marseilles on his way back from Castres where he had gone to sell some property that he had received from a wealthy patron in Toulouse. The ship, along with Vincent, was taken captive by the Barbary pirates, who took him to Tunis. Vincent was auctioned off as a slave and spent two years in bondage. His first master was a fisherman who quickly resold Vincent because he kept getting seasick on the small boats used to fish. His next master was a healer from whom Vincent learned to prepare and administer a variety of herbal remedies. The skill and fame of his master attracted the attention of some men who summoned them to Istanbul. During the passage, the old man died, and Vincent was again sold, this time to a former Franciscan priest. His new master eventually freed Vincent and in 1607 he returned to France.
After returning to France, Vincent battled depression and wrestled with doubt. He found relief in working to help others, and he discovered the meaning of his own life. He experienced conversion to a life of surrender to the will of God, and consistent service to the poor.
In his first parish, he showed his talents in organizing service to the marginalized. From there, he improved the horrendous conditions of galley slaves; he recognized and worked to reform the abysmal state of the priesthood (the attitude of “what is in it for me” that he himself had earlier in his life, was rampant among clergy); and he worked to bring the Word of God and the sacraments to the poor. Today, these priests and brothers are known as the Congregation of the Mission, or Vincentians.
In the 1620s, Vincent met a holy collaborator, a woman who would become a Saint in her own right: Louise de Marillac. Louise and Vincent together co-founded the Daughters of Charity, a congregation that today numbers more than 16,000 members.
In the early 1600s, Vincent established the first charitable organization comprised of affluent and generous lay people, working to care for the poor. This group was the forerunners of the Ladies of Charity, the oldest organization of lay women in the Church. It is currently an organization with 450,000 women volunteering in virtually all countries.
For over three decades, Vincent worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the needs of those who were poor. He held weekly instruction conferences for the clergy, organized retreats, established seminaries and missions, and structured war relief efforts. He was instrumental in establishing orphanages, hospitals, emergency services to refugees, nursing of wounded soldiers, and care of plague victims and the elderly.
At the heart of his accomplishments was his deep conviction of the fundamental dignity of every human person, made in the image and likeness of God, and his conviction that all persons benefit in the mutuality of service. Vincent’s life and teaching affirm that no one is so rich that he cannot receive; and no one is so poor that he cannot give.
Vincent’s life work served to bring Good News to the poor and to give a voice to the voiceless. He not only changed the face of France, but also inspired millions to carry on his mission globally. In fact, today, nearly two million followers of Vincent, not only the groups he directly founded, such as the Congregation of the Mission, the Daughters of Charity, the Ladies of Charity, but also the more than half million members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, all animated by the same desire to help the poor and the marginalized.
Vincent died on September 27, 1660 in Paris. He was canonized as saint by Pope Clement XII on June 16, 1737. His feast day is celebrated on September 27th.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!