Saint Vincent de Paul is one of the most revered Catholic saints worldwide, best known for his charity and his work with the poor. He was born in Pouy, France on April 24, 1581, and died in Paris on September 27, 1660. He was canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII.
Youth and training
Vincent de Paul was born into a modest peasant family and began working as a shepherd from an early age. At the age of 16 he went to study with the Cordeliers in Dax, where he was ordained a priest in 1600. He then studied theology at the University of Toulouse and graduated in 1604.
Reliquary Saint Vincent de Paul on Relics.es
After his studies, Vincent began to exercise his ministry as a country priest, first in the region of Gascony, then in Paris in 1612. He was appointed chaplain general of the galleys of France in 1619, where he began his work with prisoners. In 1625 he founded the Congregation of the Mission, also known as the Company of Priests of the Mission, to help the urban poor.
Charity and work with the poor
Saint Vincent de Paul dedicated his life to the service of the poor, the sick, prisoners and abandoned children. He established shelters for the poor, homeless, and sick, and created an organization to raise funds for those in need.
He also founded the company of the Daughters of Charity, which was intended to provide care for the sick and the poor, especially women. The Daughters of Charity quickly gained popularity in France and around the world, and continued their charitable work long after Vincent de Paul's death.
Vincent de Paul also worked to improve the training of priests and seminarians, and founded seminaries for their teaching.
Canonization and veneration
Saint Vincent de Paul was beatified in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII and canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII. He is celebrated on September 27.
Veneration of Saint Vincent de Paul is widespread throughout the world, and many churches and charities bear his name or are dedicated to his memory. The Daughters of Charity continue their work on her behalf, providing medical care, education and social services around the world.
The relics of Saint Vincent de Paul
The relics of Saint Vincent de Paul, one of the most revered Catholic saints in the world, are kept in the Chapelle des Lazaristes in Paris. Vincent de Paul was born on April 24, 1581 and died on September 27, 1660, and was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737.
History of the Chapel of the Lazarists
The Chapel of the Lazarists, also known as the Chapel of the Mother House of the Lazarists, is located in the 95th arrondissement of Paris. The chapel was built in 1634 on the orders of Saint Vincent de Paul himself, to serve as a place of worship for the Lazarist community, of which he was the founder. The Lazarist community is a Roman Catholic religious order, also known as the Company of Priests of the Mission, dedicated to the service of the poor.
The Chapel of the Lazarists was designed by architect Pierre Le Muet, who worked closely with Saint Vincent de Paul to ensure the building met the standards of Catholic liturgy. The chapel has been enlarged several times over the years, and is today considered one of the most beautiful churches in Paris.
The relics of Saint Vincent de Paul
The relics of Saint Vincent de Paul are kept in the Chapel of the Lazarists, where he is buried. The relics include fragments of his bones, as well as clothing and personal items. The relics are kept in a gilded silver shrine, which is displayed in the chapel for the veneration of pilgrims.
Every year, thousands of pilgrims visit the chapel of the Lazarists to honor the memory of Saint Vincent de Paul and ask for his intercession. The chapel is also a place of pilgrimage for members of the Lazarist community, who continue to carry on the legacy of their founder by working in service to the poor throughout the world.
