St. Vincent de Paul, Apostle of Charity

From Jean at Catholic Fire:

St. Vincent de Paul was an apostle of charity, and one of the greatest French saints. He was born in Gascony (France) in 1581 to a peasant farmer. Following his studies under the Franciscans at Dax, he was ordained a priest at age 20. Five years later, he was traveling by sea when his ship was captured by Moorish pirates who carried him to Africa sold into slavery. He was freed in 1607 when he converted one of his owners to Christianity.

When he returned to France, he became a parish priest near Paris and later, a chaplain to the galley-slaves. He founded a religious congregation of priests called the Lazarists, (who are now known as Vincentians), for missionary work. With the help of St Louise de Marillac, he founded the Sisters of Charity, who were the first congregation of women to care for the poor and sick outside of the convent. He devoted his whole life to serving the poor.

He died in 1660 in Paris, France and was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737.

St. Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of: charitable societies; horses; hospitals; hospital workers; leprosy; lost articles; prisoners; volunteers; spiritual help; Saint Vincent de Paul Societies; Vincentian Service Corps; Madagascar; diocese of Richmond, Virginia [ED.: I lived in the Richmond Diocese for almost 15 years and never knew that until now].

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My Comments:
In honor of the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, the students of Norwalk Catholic School's Early Childhood Center and Elementary School have collected non-perishable food items to donate today to the local St. Vincent de Paul Society food bank. Kudos to my lovely wife Sarah for approaching the school with that idea.