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| The Feast Day of Saint Vincent de Paul |
| By Doreen Johnson |
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The feast day of Saint Vincent de Paul has been recognized for two centuries.
This feast was originally celebrated on July 19. The feast day of Saint Vincent
de Paul was eventually changed to September 27, which is the date of the death
of Vincent de Paul. It is interesting to ponder the importance of the exact date
of the Feast Day of Saint Vincent de Paul; but the date is minor compared to the
many contributions the man made to the world during his lifetime.
Saint Vincent de Paul lived a simple life as a child born to a farming family
from Pouy, a village in Gascony, France around 1581. He was first educated by
Franciscan Fathers as a boy. At the age of sixteen, he attended the University
of Toulouse where he studied theology. He was ordained a priest there at the age
of nineteen.
Following his early years in the priesthood, Vincent de Paul began to advocate
for the poor. He observed that there was much poverty and suffering in the
world, and he, along with Louise de Marillac, used his talents as a loving human
being to bring charitable acts to those who needed them the most. Vincent
de Paul began preaching missions in France. He founded an orphanage, and
co-founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity in 1633 with Louise de
Marillac,... |
...a contemporary sister who would later be canonized a saint. St.
Vincent also established the Ladies of Charity in 1617 and the Congregation of
Priests of the Mission (or Lazarists) in 1625.
Today these organizations still exist. Our parish has been lead by the
charitable priests from the Congregation of the Mission since its establishment
in 1875. The Daughters of Charity still assist the poor in many ways. There are
countless organizations that have adopted Saint Vincent de Paul as their patron
saint because they believe that his spirit of loving, generosity, and loyalty to
the Lord will inspire further goodness as they strive to serve others. The
lengthy list of accomplishments that Vincent de Paul achieved during his time is
an example of the standard of love and dedication that he has set for people
around the world to examine as they also strive to serve others.
This year the feast day of Saint Vincent de Paul will have special meaning in
our parish. We have said good-bye to our friend and long-time pastor Father
Donald Ours, C.M. and we shall welcome our new pastor, Father Patrick Harrity,
C.M. We shall continue Saint Vincent’s legacy of helping the poor and of
performing other charitable acts. Let us continue to be inspired by the love of
Saint Vincent de Paul.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Vincent_de_Paul
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