St. Vincent de Paul

Today is the memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, the saint after whom I was named. As my choosing his name would suggest, he is one of my favorite saints, whom I greatly wish to imitate. He is the patron of charities, one who always devoted himself to serving the poor and needy. He was a French priest, who lived as a slave for a time in Tunis. After two years, Divine Providence saw fit to release him, and he returned to Paris. In a time when war racked the French countryside, Vincent devoted himself to feeding the poor, often going with little or no food to ensure that those who came to him had something to eat. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Sisters of Charity, whose efforts did much to relieve the suffering of the French people. It is truly impossible to enumerate all he did in service to God, but his concern for people of all backgrounds and social statuses, paired with his selfless charity, make him a saint truly worthy of consideration.

Prayer: God, You gave St. Vincent de Paul apostolic virtues for the salvation of the poor and the formation of the clergy. Grant that, endowed with the same spirit, we may love what he loved and act according to his teaching. Amen.

Vincent Christian.