Saint Vincent De Paul – Saint Of The Week

Saint of the Week

St Vincent De Paul

Feast: 27th September

Patronage: Charities, Volunteers

In last weeks homily (listen here) Father Murphy of Lavington spoke of St Vincent and how he was too busy caring and thinking of others to think selfishly of himself. He spent his time of others which lead him closer to God. God worked within his humble heart. 

This reminds me of something author Jacques Philippe mentions in his ‘Time for God’ book, explaining how God can work in us even when we think our mental prayer is dull, uneventful, full of distractions etc…

Phillippe explains how rich prayer can occur at these times and how it can still bear fruit as “the cause of the immense riches arising from prayer is not our thoughts or our actions, but the action of God in our hearts” (p.51).

St Vincent born in 1581 in Gascony and was ordained into the priesthood at the young age of nineteen. He was the founder of the “Priests of the Mission” (Vincentians) and co-founder of the Sisters of Charity.

St Vincent spent his life dedicated to the poor and ill. His selfless acts of charity are a great witness of the charity, self giving and humble nature of God. 

In 1605 St Vincent travelled from Marseilles to Narbonne where he was captured by African pirates for two years. He escaped due to divine intervention. He then returned to Rome and Paris to continue his mission to preach and help others. He is well thought of for his continued humility he displayed and upheld throughout his life.

Father Murphy at the end of his homily asks us to ponder the life of St Vincent and look at our own lives and see how we can imitate and illuminate the selfless and self giving way of this great saint, in the name of Christ Jesus. 

St Vincent De Paul, pray for us. 

Source: 

1  Giorgi, R. SAINTS. A year in Faith and Art. 

2  http://www.catholic.org/saints

Originally posted 2014-09-23 04:34:27.