Vincent de Paul

Saint Vincent de Paul C.M.
Seventeenth-century portrait of Vincent by Simon François de Tours
Priest and founder
Born	24 April 1581 Pouy, Gascony, Kingdom of France
Died	27 September 1660(1660-09-27) (aged 79) Paris, Kingdom of France
Venerated in	Catholic Church Anglican Communion
Beatified	13 August 1729, Rome, Papal States by Pope Benedict XIII
Canonized	16 June 1737, Rome, Papal States by Pope Clement XII
Major shrine	Saint Vincent de Paul Chapel, 95, Rue de Sèvres, Paris, France
Feast	27 September 19 July (Roman Calendar, 1737–1969)
Patronage	Charities horses hospitals leprosy lost articles Madagascar prisoners Richmond, Virginia spiritual help Saint Vincent de Paul Societies Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory Vincentian Service Corps volunteers

Vincent de Paul, CM (24 April 1581 – 27 September 1660), commonly known as Saint Vincent de Paul, was an Occitan French Catholic priest who dedicated himself to serving the poor.

In 1622, Vincent was appointed as chaplain to the galleys. After working for some time in Paris among imprisoned galley slaves, he returned to be the superior of what is now known as the Congregation of the Mission, or the "Vincentians" (in France known as "Lazaristes"), which he co-founded.

These Vincentian priests, with vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and stability, were to devote themselves entirely to the people in smaller towns and villages. Vincent was zealous in conducting retreats for clergy at a time when the local clergy's morals were flagging. He was a pioneer in seminary education and also founded the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. He is the namesake of the Vincentian Family of organizations, which includes both of the religious communities he founded.

He was renowned for his compassion, humility, and generosity. Vincent was canonized in 1737 and is venerated as a saint in both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.^[1]