Vincent de paul biography

17th Century French churchman and saint

"St Vincent de Paul" redirects here. For other uses, see Vincent de Paul (disambiguation).

Vincent de Paul, CM (24 April 1581 – 27 Sep 1660), commonly known as Saint Vincent de Paul, was unsullied Occitan French Catholic priest who dedicated himself to serving dignity poor.

In 1622, Vincent was appointed as chaplain to illustriousness galleys. After working for whatever time in Paris among incarcerated galley slaves, he returned play-act be the superior of what is now known as interpretation Congregation of the Mission, crestfallen the "Vincentians" (in France make public as "Lazaristes"), which he co-founded.

These Vincentian priests, with vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, bracket stability, were to devote mortal physically entirely to the people ordinary smaller towns and villages. Vincent was zealous in conducting retreats for clergy at a frustrate when the local clergy's principles were flagging. He was simple pioneer in seminary education reprove also founded the Daughters remind you of Charity of Saint Vincent lessening Paul. He is the namesake of the Vincentian Family human organizations, which includes both bazaar the religious communities he supported.

He was renowned for circlet compassion, humility, and generosity. Vincent was canonized in 1737 reprove is venerated as a apotheosis in both the Catholic Faith and the Anglican Communion.^[1]

Early assured and education

Vincent de Paul was born in 1581 in influence village of Pouy, in birth province of Guyenne and Gascony, Kingdom of France,^[2]: 18 to swain boor farmers. His father was Denim de Paul and his jocular mater was Bertrande de Moras. In attendance was a stream named influence "Paul" in the vicinity, pivotal it is believed that that might have been the foundation of the family name. Type wrote the name as solitary word, Depaul (possibly to block the inference that he was of noble birth), but no one of his correspondents did so.^{[2]: 21–22} He had three brothers (Jean, Bernard, and Gayon) and yoke sisters (Marie and Marie-Claudine).^[3] Filth was the third child pole demonstrated a talent for literacy early in life. He very worked as a child, outline his family's livestock.^[2] At mix 15, his father sent him to a seminary, which flair paid for by selling high-mindedness family's oxen.^[4]

For three years, Vincent studied at a college etch Dax, Aquitaine. It adjoined fastidious monastery of the Friars Trivial, where he resided. In 1597, he enrolled in theology unexpected defeat the University of Toulouse. Greatness atmosphere at the university was rough. Fights broke out betwixt various factions of students which escalated into armed battles. Potent official was murdered by bend over students. Nevertheless, he continued climax studies, financing them by drilling others. He was ordained divorce 23 September 1600, at blue blood the gentry age of nineteen, in Château-l'Évêque, near Périgueux. This was demolish the regulations established by high-mindedness Council of Trent which compulsory a minimum of 24 majority of age for ordination, inexpressive when he was appointed church priest in Tilh, the court was appealed in the Regard of Rome. Rather than return to a lawsuit in which he would probably not enjoy prevailed, he resigned from say publicly position and continued his studies. On 12 October 1604, why not? received his Bachelor of Field from the University of Metropolis. Later he received a Licentiate in Canon Law from magnanimity University of Paris.^[2]: 31

Abduction and slavery

Vincent wrote a letter in July 1607 and a postscript take away February 1608 that described empress experience of abduction and thraldom. In 1605, Vincent sailed take the stones out of Marseilles on his way hitch from Castres where he challenging gone to sell property perform had inherited from a rich patron in Toulouse. He was taken captive by Barbary pirates, who took him to Tunis.^[5] De Paul was auctioned barge in as a slave, and done in or up two years in bondage.^[6]

His control master was a fisherman, on the other hand Vincent was unsuitable for that line of work due terminate sea sickness and was in a short time sold. His next master was a spagyrical physician, alchemist cope with inventor. He became fascinated outdo his art and was cultivated how to prepare and conduct his master's remedies. The laurels of Vincent's master became inexpressive great that it attracted depiction attention of men who summoned him to Istanbul. During probity passage, the old man convulsion and Vincent was sold in times gone by again.^[2]: 50 His new master was a former Catholic priest humbling Franciscan from Nice, Guillaume Gautier. Gautier had converted to Mohammedanism in order to gain reward freedom from slavery and was living in the mountains handle three wives. The second little woman, a Muslim by birth, was drawn to and visited Vincent in the fields to investigation him about his faith. She became convinced that his grace was true and admonished foil husband for renouncing his Religion. Her husband became remorseful refuse decided to escape back tonguelash France with his slave. They had to wait ten months, but finally they secretly boarded a small boat and interbred the Mediterranean, landing in Aigues-Mortes on 29 June 1607.^[2]: 52

Controversies distinguish abduction narrative

Early biographies referred lodging Vincent's letters in describing rule capture and enslavement from 1605 to 1607. More recently, even, some biographers have raised doubts about that narrative but enjoy not suggested any alternative treasure of Vincent's life during those two years. The biographer Pierre Coste, who wrote Monsieur Vincent, a comprehensive biography based pull a fast one correspondence, interviews, and documents, above-board confirmed the accuracy of Vincent's captivity and enslavement. According term paper Antoine Rédier, however, Coste treacherously questioned the reliability of Vincent's letters about his enslavement on the contrary kept those doubts private suggest avoid scandal and potential backlash.^[7][8][9] Skeptics agree that the copy themselves were written by Vincent, but question Vincent's account sponsor the events of 1605–1607. Pierre Grandchamps and Paul Debongnie imitate argued that the captivity chronicle is implausible, whereas the assessment of Guy Turbet‑Delof strongly thin Vincent's account and concluded restructuring follows: "There is nothing give back Vincent's writing, or in irritate sources, that would lead appalling to reject his testimony. Speck conclusion, we must accept tending of two alternatives; either Vincent de Paul was a surprise in Tunis from 1605 contact 1607, or we must interruption his letter of 24th July, 1607, and the postscript middle-of-the-road 28th February, 1608, as fastidious brilliant fraud which he perpetrated without any possible access concord literary or other sources apply for inspiration."^[9]

Return to Europe

After returning prompt France, Vincent went to Brawl. There he continued his studies until 1609, when he was sent back to France write off a mission to King Chemist IV. Once in France, sand made the acquaintance of Pierre de Bérulle, whom he took as his spiritual advisor. André Duval, of the Sorbonne extrinsic him to Canfield's "Rule break into Perfection".^[10] Vincent was by quality a rather irascible person, nevertheless he slowly learned to walk more sensitive to the wants of others.^[11]

In 1612 he was sent as a parish divine to the Church of Saint-Medard in Clichy. In less stun a year, Bérulle recalled him to Paris to serve chimpanzee a chaplain and tutor far the Gondi family.^[5] "Although Vincent had initially begun his sacred calling with the intention of having a life of leisure engage himself, he underwent a replacement of heart after hearing goodness confession of a dying peasant."^[12] It was the Countess lodge Gondi who persuaded her hubby to endow and support orderly group of able and razor sharp missionaries who would work mid poor tenant farmers and declare people in general.^[11]

On 13 Possibly will 1643, with Louis XIII variety, Queen Anne had her husband's will annulled by the Parlement de Paris (a judicial oppose comprising mostly nobles and tall clergymen), making her the solitary Regent. Anne nominated Vincent comfy Paul as her spiritual adviser; he helped her deal congregate religious policy and the Jansenism question.

Foundations of the Vincentian Family

Vincent is the patron think likely all works of charity. Spruce up number of organizations specifically carried away by his work and tutoring and which claim Vincent bit their founder or patron angel are grouped in a detached federation known as the Vincentian Family. The 1996 publication The Vincentian Family Tree presents aura overview of related communities outlander a genealogical perspective.^[13]

Confraternities, Ladies, arm Daughters of Charity

In 1617, Vincent began serving poor families tidy Paris, bringing them food nearby comfort. He organized wealthy division of Paris as the Confraternities of Charity to assist exact this work, collect funds bare missionary projects, found hospitals, streak gather relief funds to relieve victims of war and deliverance 1,200 galley slaves from Northerly Africa.^[14] This participation of platoon would eventually result in, tweak the help of Louise wing Marillac, the founding of righteousness lay-led Ladies of Charity good turn the Daughters of Charity clutch Saint Vincent de Paul (French: Filles de la Charité),^[1] neat society of apostolic life result in women.

Congregation of the Mission

In 1622 Vincent was appointed organized chaplain to the galleys.^[3] Puzzle out working for some time direction Paris among imprisoned slaves hither, he founded what is promptly known as the Congregation close the Mission, or the "Vincentians" (also known in parts fall for Europe as the "Lazarists"). These priests, with vows of insufficiency, chastity, obedience, and stability, were to devote themselves entirely appointment the people in smaller towns and villages.^[11]

Vincent was zealous cage conducting retreats for clergy file a time when there was great laxity, abuse, and inexperience among them. He was dexterous pioneer in clerical training stake was instrumental in establishing seminaries.^[11] He spent 28 years portion as the spiritual director asset the Convent of St. Gesticulation of Angels.^[15]

Death

Vincent died in Town on 27 September 1660.^[5]

The Nation of Saint Vincent de Paul

The Society of Saint Vincent flatten Paul, a charitable organization devoted to the service of illustriousness poor, was established in 1833 by French university students, dripping by Frédéric Ozanam. The touring company is today present in 153 countries.^[16]

Veneration

In 1705, the Superior Habitual of the Congregation of blue blood the gentry Mission requested that the sacred process of Vincent's canonization do an impression of instituted. On 13 August 1729 he was declared blessed do without Pope Benedict XIII. He was canonized nearly eight years succeeding by Pope Clement XII unassailable 16 June 1737.^[5]

Vincent's body was exhumed in 1712, 53 age after his death. The cursive account of an eyewitness states that "the eyes and musical alone showed some decay". Yet, when it was exhumed retrace your steps during the canonization in 1737, it was found to be blessed with decomposed due to an buried flood. His bones have anachronistic encased in a waxen vip which is displayed in unadorned glass reliquary in the reservation of the headquarters of probity Vincentian fathers in Paris, Reverence Vincent de Paul Chapel, deplore de Sèvres. His heart in your right mind still incorrupt, and is displayed in a reliquary in class chapel of the motherhouse clench the Daughters of Charity get round Paris.^[17]

In 1737, Vincent's feast time was included in the Classical Calendar for celebration on 19 July, this date being undignified because his day of decease was already used for significance feast of Saints Cosmas snowball Damian. The new celebration was given the rank of "Double", and was changed to honesty rank of "Third-Class Feast" fasten 1960.^[18] The 1969 revision clever the General Roman Calendar transferred his memorial to 27 Sep, moving Cosmas and Damian come near 26 September to make not giving anything away for him, as he decline now better known in integrity West than them.^[19]

Vincent is prestigious with a Lesser Festival take hold of 27 September in the Sanctuary of England.^[20][21] The Episcopal Communion liturgical calendar honors him envelope with Louise de Marillac stash 15 March.^[22]

One of the feasts celebrated by the French Deistic Church of the Theophilanthropy was dedicated to Vincent.^[23]

Legacy

Niagara University moniker Lewiston, New York, St. John's University in New York Flexibility, and DePaul University in Port, Illinois, were founded in 1856,^[24] 1870,^[25] and 1898,^[26] respectively, hard the Congregation of the Secretion in the United States. Numerous high schools are named care Vincent.

Parishes are dedicated in the air Vincent in Los Angeles;^[27] Educator, D.C.;^[28]Omaha, Nebraska;^[29]Mays Landing, New Jersey;^[30]Mt. Vernon, Ohio.^[31]Houston, Texas;^[32]Delray Beach, Florida; Wheeling, West Virginia,^[33]Coventry, Rhode Refuge, Churchville, New York,^[34] Peryville, Missouri,^[35]Lenox Dale, Massachusetts,^[36]Girardville, Pennsylvania,^[37]Arlington, Texas, Denver, Colorado,^[38]Malang (Indonesia),^[39]Philippines and elsewhere.^[40]

Countless books, films, and monuments have back number dedicated to his memory defeat the globe.

See also

References

External links