Vincent was born in France in 1581 during a time not unlike today: 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 as their primary means of support. His parents recognized that he was clever and creative, and sacrificed to send him to school.

Vincent was also ambitious. He wanted out of the peasant life, and decided that the priesthood was the best way to acquire a career, family 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?” So he often sought out wealthy benefactors. However, in his 30s, a profound spiritual change was beginning. He had battled depression, and wrestled with doubt. In working to help others, Vincent 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 the abysmal state of the priesthood, and attracted other dedicated priests to reform the clergy, as well as to bring the Word of God and sacraments to the poor. Today, these priests and brothers are known as the Congregation of the Mission: 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 group of more than 25,000 members worldwide today.

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 of 250,000 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 give 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 which is the oldest functioning group of lay women with its 250,000 members today, but also, the more than half million members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the various groups of Sisters of Charity… in short: priests, Brothers, Sisters, members of lay movements… they are all animated by the same desire to help the poor and the marginalized.

St. Vincent’s life was a perfect example of how deep compassion can change our lives and communities. Getting to know Vincent enables us to discover what inspired and possessed him, and what touches our own hearts, and calls us today to actions of love and justice to transform our world.

Source: https://vinformation.org/en/vincentian-formation-resources/presentations-media-games/journey/

Writings

(Year B) Our vocation is to go and enflame the heart of men, to do what the Son of God did, He who brought fire into the world to set it alight with His love.   What else can we wish for, than for it to burn and consume all things?  Thus it is true that I have been sent not only to love God but also to make men love Him.

It is not enough to love God if my neighbour does not love Him.   I must love my neighbour as the image of God and the object of His love and do everything so that in their turn men love their Creator who knows and considers them as His brothers, whom He has saved, I must obtain that they love each other with mutual love, out of love for God who loved them to the point of abandoning to death His very Son.   So that is my duty.   Now, if it is true that we are called to bear God’s love near and far, if we must set nations alight, if our vocation is to go and spread this divine fire in the whole world, if it is so, my brothers, if it is really so, how must I myself burn of this divine fire!

How can we give love to others, if we do not have it among us?   Let us look if it is so, not generally but if each one has it within himself, in due amount, because if love is not on fire in us, if we do not love each other as Jesus Christ loved us and if we do not act as He did, how can we hope to spread such love throughout the world?   You cannot give what you do not have.  The precise duty of charity consists in doing to others what you reasonably would like done to yourself.   Do I really behave towards my neighbour as I wish he would towards me?

Let us look at the Son of God.  Only our Lord can be so taken by love for creatures so much as to leave His Father’s throne and take a body subject to infirmity.  And why?   In order to establish among us, with His word and example, the love of our neighbours. This is the love that led Him to the Cross and accomplished the wonderful work of our redemption.  If we had a little of such love, would we stay here with folded arms?   Oh! no, love can not remain barren, it urges us to obtain salvation and relief for others. (Conferences to Vincentians)

Musical Selection

Collect

Merciful God,
whose servant Vincent de Paul,
by his ministry of preaching and pastoral care, 
brought your love to the sick and the poor:
give to all your people a heart of compassion 
that by word and action they may serve you
in serving others in their need;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, 
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, now and for ever. Amen. (English Missal)