By Michael Howard
BORN into peasantry, kidnapped into slavery and finally a spiritual advisor to the Queen of France, St Vincent de Paul was a witness to the stark contrast between rich and poor, in both wealth and spirit.
Pope Benedict XVI noted that through St Vincent de Paul’s unique life, he was “encouraged by the love of Christ” to “organise permanent forms of service” for those in need.
Born in 1581, it is said St Vincent was notably literate throughout his childhood of work, as he joined the seminary at 15.
What was to become a life of charity was started as such, with his father selling the family’s oxen to provide for his vocation.
Yet, on returning from a trip across the Mediterranean, St Vincent is said to have been kidnapped and forced into slavery.
Sold between several masters, St Vincent finally settled under former Catholic priest, Guillaume Gautier.
Gautier was at one point a slave himself and converted to Islam to avoid subjugation.
However, upon the testimony of St Vincent and the conversion of one of his wives, Gautier decided the trio must flee from Tunisia back to Christendom.
St Vincent’s steadfastness in faith and love, despite his enslavement, was only the beginning of his life’s work.
St Vincent then resumed his vocational studies in Rome.
Extraordinarily, St Vincent was sent back to France, where he fell into favour with several noble families.
Here, upon hearing the confession of a dying peasant, St Vincent’s perception of the priesthood radically altered.
St Vincent no longer desired security or leisure after his life of turmoil, but yearned for a burdensome life of service.
The virtue of charity was to consume his life.
Through the donations of noble families, St Vincent established the Confraternities, Ladies and Daughters of Charity, as well as the Congregation of the Mission.
These organisations are committed to the lives of the poor, in lives of service and charity.
St Vincent then served as the spiritual director of a Parisian convent for more than 25 years, as he also advised Queen Anne of France on religious policy and prevailing heresys.
St Vincent led a full life, in poverty and prestige, with charity at the heart of it all.
In contemporary Australia, we often associate St Vincent de Paul with his Society, which was established in 1833.
‘Vinnies’ as they’re often called, provide aid to over two million Australians in need, as their services rightly embody the patron saint of Charity.
Christians and non-Christians alike associate St Vincent de Paul with charity thanks to the life changing work of ‘Vinnies’ volunteers.
Yet, the St Vincent de Paul Society is just one of the 238 Vincentian organisations globally.
St Vincent continues to provide charity today, through the works of groups inspired by his unwavering virtue.
For St Vincent, galley slaves in the depths of warships and peasants in rural France required his aid.
Today, his works extend globally to all walks of life.
Let us pray on his feast day today that we may have the virtue of charity as St Vincent de Paul possessed, as we hope to continue his legacy of permanent aid for the poor.
Michael Howard is studying law at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. As a member of St Gerard Majella’s Church, West Chermside, he has developed a passion for Catholic thought.
