Born
in 1576, ordained to the priesthood in 1600, he suffered many trials
and setbacks and did not become a pastor for a number of years after his
ordination. He was captured by Muslim pirates and held in captivity for
two years after which he escaped with an apostate Italian, whom he
succeeded in converting back to Catholicism. It was only in 1617 that he
became a pastor and also the chaplain to Queen Marguerite, the
separated wife of King Henry IV.
During
this period, he founded many hospitals and orphanages, and frequently
visited prisons. Through all of these arduous works, he remained calm
and pleasant with everyone despite the tremendous amount of work he had
undertaken, because as Father de Laurent states, Vincent possessed
treasures of goodness. His bright eyes reflected his burning charity and
his copious undertakings were the fruit of his pure goodness for “no
one exerts a serious influence upon his surroundings if he is not
fundamentally good.” He welcomed all with a beaming smile and charm, and
firmly believed that the hours that he sacrificed to charity were never
lost.
He
saw the wealthy as a reflection of the Divine nobility of Our Lord, and
in the poor, His voluntary and sublime poverty. While Vincent received
many considerably large donations along with notable recognition from on
high, none of this affected his profound humility. He also led an
intense spiritual life. His contemplation of God gave him the graces and
strength to accomplish what ordinary men could never do. He was a man
of action, but he also was a man of continual prayer. His actions were a
mere overflowing of his interior life, which was well nourished. He
would often say “There is not much to hope for from a man who does not
like to converse with God.” Rising at four in the morning, he would go
directly to the chapel to spend an hour in meditation, celebrate daily
Mass and afterward, recite his breviary.
Visitors would come by seeking consultations in grave matters during which he would remain silent for a few minutes, praying to God for good counsel and then dispense advice. He would bless himself each time that the clock struck the hour or quarter-hour. Vincent said that he saw the soul of Jane Frances de Chantal rise to Heaven in the form of a fiery globe during one of his Masses. He was a humble man who never divulged his prayer life, often recommended communal prayer and would frequently say, “Perfection in love does not consist of ecstasies, but in doing the will of God.”
Most importantly, he had a special devotion to Our Lady. He began this devotion in his youth and increased it throughout his life. Ultimately, he went forward in life after contemplation and prayer, not relying on human support, and by doing the Will of God.
Vincent was taken ill and died in 1660. He was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737.
During
this period, he founded many hospitals and orphanages, and frequently
visited prisons. Through all of these arduous works, he remained calm
and pleasant with everyone despite the tremendous amount of work he had
undertaken, because as Father de Laurent states, Vincent possessed
treasures of goodness. His bright eyes reflected his burning charity and
his copious undertakings were the fruit of his pure goodness for “no
one exerts a serious influence upon his surroundings if he is not
fundamentally good.” He welcomed all with a beaming smile and charm, and
firmly believed that the hours that he sacrificed to charity were never
lost.He
saw the wealthy as a reflection of the Divine nobility of Our Lord, and
in the poor, His voluntary and sublime poverty. While Vincent received
many considerably large donations along with notable recognition from on
high, none of this affected his profound humility. He also led an
intense spiritual life. His contemplation of God gave him the graces and
strength to accomplish what ordinary men could never do. He was a man
of action, but he also was a man of continual prayer. His actions were a
mere overflowing of his interior life, which was well nourished. He
would often say “There is not much to hope for from a man who does not
like to converse with God.” Rising at four in the morning, he would go
directly to the chapel to spend an hour in meditation, celebrate daily
Mass and afterward, recite his breviary.Visitors would come by seeking consultations in grave matters during which he would remain silent for a few minutes, praying to God for good counsel and then dispense advice. He would bless himself each time that the clock struck the hour or quarter-hour. Vincent said that he saw the soul of Jane Frances de Chantal rise to Heaven in the form of a fiery globe during one of his Masses. He was a humble man who never divulged his prayer life, often recommended communal prayer and would frequently say, “Perfection in love does not consist of ecstasies, but in doing the will of God.”
Most importantly, he had a special devotion to Our Lady. He began this devotion in his youth and increased it throughout his life. Ultimately, he went forward in life after contemplation and prayer, not relying on human support, and by doing the Will of God.
Vincent was taken ill and died in 1660. He was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737.
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