25 Facts About St. Vincent De Paul That Every Kid Should Know

St. Vincent De Paul was a French Catholic Priest.

He was a patron saint who dedicated his life to the betterment of the poor. St. Vincent was also recognized for his charity works.

St. Vincent De Paul was born on April 24, 1581, in a french village named Pouy to a peasant family. Vincent's father, Jean, was a farmer by profession. His mother's name was Bertrande de Moras de Paul. He died at the age of 79, on September 27, 1660, in Paris. St. Vincent De Paul founded many hospitals and started two Roman Catholic religious orders.

Facts About St. Vincent De Paul

St. Vincent De Paul is a personality known all over the world for his works in the field of charity, but here are some facts that you might not know about the patron saint.

• Vincent was the third child among six. He had three brothers named Jean, Bernard, Gayon and two sisters named Marie and Marie-Claudine.
• At the age of 15, Vincent was sent to a seminary. His father gathered money for that by selling the family's oxen.
• Vincent received his education by Franciscans at a college in Dax, France.
• De Paul studied theology in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Toulouse and graduated in 1604.
• He was captured and enslaved by Barbary pirates for two years, from 1605 to 1607. After capturing him, Barbary pirates took Vincent De Paul to Tunis, currently located in Tunisia, a region in North Africa.
• During the time when he was enslaved, Vincent De Paul's first master was a fisherman. Due to seasickness, he was not suited for the work and was sold again.
• He moved to Paris in 1608 and became influenced by Father Pierre De Berulle and looked up to him as his spiritual director.
• St. Vincent himself did not found the Society of Vincent De Paul. Instead, it was Frederic Ozanam who founded the Society.
• Currently, the Society of Vincent De Paul is present in 153 countries across the world, serving the poor.
• His heart is preserved in a convent of Sisters of Charity, and his bones are also preserved in a wax figure kept at the Church of the Lazarist Mission in Paris.

St. Vincent De Paul's Contribution To Society

St. Vincent De Paul devoted his whole life to the betterment of society. That's why his contribution to society can not be ignored.

• St. Vincent De Paul co-founded the 'Daughters of Charity' with Louise De Marillac in 1633. It is a society of apostolic life for women within the Catholic church.
• In 1625, St. Vincent De Paul founded the 'Congregation of the Mission' by inspiring young people, some of whom were priests, to preach to the poor people of the countryside.
• With the help of 'Daughters of Charity,' he encouraged the wealthy women of Paris to collect funds for missionary projects.
• St. Vincent founded several hospitals. He gathered relief funds for war victims and freed up almost 1,200 galley slaves of North Africa.
• He put emphasis on retreats for the clergy when there was abuse and ignorance among priests.

St. Vincent De Paul's History

The history behind Vincent De Paul becoming Saint Vincent is fascinating to know.

• At the age of 19, in 1600, St. Vincent got ordained in Chateau-I'Eveque.
• After escaping Africa, where he was enslaved, he served at a church located in rural France.
• In 1612, he was sent to the Church of Saint-Medard in Clichy as parish priest. After a year, Father Pierre De Berulle recalled him to Paris to serve as chaplain and tutor to the Gondi family.
• St. Vincent was once falsely accused of theft by his roommate, but he did not defend himself as he did not care about his public image. In his early life, he was very short-tempered. But after working closely with people in need, he eventually softened his heart.
• Queen Anne of France nominated him as her spiritual advisor to help her with the religious policies.

St. Vincent De Paul's Philosophy

Saint Vincent De Paul had a philosophy that attracted a lot of people. His simple philosophy to educate and help society to make them aware of the Christian spirit was exemplary.

• Vincent De Paul was a man of action. He prioritized action rather than theory.
• As a spiritual advisor, he conveyed his messages in a simple, straightforward, and practical manner.
• Helping the poor, doing charity work, and teaching them about Christ was his main goal.
• Vincent never thought that being a priest was only a career. Instead, he saw this as a way to build a relationship with God.
• He realized the need for priests to step up for the poor of France, as they were not respected.