St. Vincent de Paul

Born: Place of birth: Parents: Priest Died: Canonised as saint: Feast day:

24th April 1581 Pouy, France Poor farmers Friend of the poor 27th September 1660 1737 27th September

Vincent was born the son of a poor peasant in France. He became a priest
at the age of 19. After 5 years as a priest, he was captured by the Turks
and sold as a slave in Tunisia. During his two years in slavery, Vincent 
managed to convert his slave master and they both escaped to France. 

Back in France, Fr. Vincent spent all his time caring for the poor, the sick, 
the prisoners and the slaves in the royal galleys. For the next 25 years he
worked untiringly for these less fortunate people. The sermons and retreats
he preached and his works of charity attracted many influential personalities.

In time, the rich nobles and even the King of France, Louis 13, gave him 
support. From then on, Fr. Vincent began to build hospitals, orphanages
and homes for the destitutes and lepers. All these he left to the care and 
management of a group of kind and holy women who called themselves
the 'Daughters of Charity'.

Fr. Vincent died on September 27, 1660 and was later canonised and 
made patron saint of all Catholic societies devoted to works of charity.
Even to this day the uncorrupt body of St. Vincent de Paul can be seen
in the Church bearing his name in Paris.