St. Vincent de Paul - July 19
Born of a peasant family at Pouy in Gascony, France, in 1580. Though some authorities have said it was 1576. He made his humanities studies at Dax with the Cordeliers, and his theological studies, interrupted by a short stay at Saragossa, were made at Toulouse where he graduated in theology. Ordained in 1600 he remained at Toulouse or in its vicinity acting as tutor while continuing his own studies. Brought to Marseilles for an inheritance, he was returning by sea in 1605 when Turkish pirates captured him and took him to Tunis. He was sold as a slave, but escaped in 1607 with his master, a renegade whom he converted.
After the poor of the country, Vincent's solicitude was directed towards the convicts in the galleys, who were subject to M. de Gondi as general of the galleys of France. Before being convoyed aboard the galleys or when illness compelled them to disembark, the condemned convicts were crowded with chains on their legs onto damp dungeons, their only food being black bread and water, while they were covered with vermin and ulcers. Their moral state was still more frightful than their physical misery. Vincent wished to ameliorate both. Assisted by a priest, he began visiting the galley convicts of Paris, speaking kind words to them, doing them every manner of service however repulsive.
He thus won their hearts, converted many of them, and interested in their behalf several persons who came to visit them.
After the poor of the country, Vincent's solicitude was directed towards the convicts in the galleys, who were subject to M. de Gondi as general of the galleys of France. Before being convoyed aboard the galleys or when illness compelled them to disembark, the condemned convicts were crowded with chains on their legs onto damp dungeons, their only food being black bread and water, while they were covered with vermin and ulcers. Their moral state was still more frightful than their physical misery. Vincent wished to ameliorate both. Assisted by a priest, he began visiting the galley convicts of Paris, speaking kind words to them, doing them every manner of service however repulsive.
Vincent de Paul established the Daughters of Charity. almost at the same time as the exercises des ordinands. At first they were intended to assist the conferences of charity. When these conferences were established at Paris in 1629 the ladies who joined them readily brought their alms and were willing to visit the poor, but it often happened that they did not know how to give them care which their conditions demanded and they sent their servants to do what was needful in their stead.
Altar of Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul - Los Angeles, California
It was due to them that he was able to collect the enormous sums which he distributed in aid of all the unfortunates. Among the works, which their co-operation enabled him to undertake, that of the care of foundlings was one of the most important.
Vincent adopted the idea and did more than anyone for the realization of what has been called one of the greatest works of charity of the seventeenth century, the sheltering of 40,000 poor in an asylum where they would be given a useful work.
St. Vincent's charity was not restricted to Paris, but reached to all the provinces desolated by misery. In that period of the Thirty Years War known as the French period, Lorraine, Trois-Evechés, Franche-Comté, and Champagne underwent for nearly a quarter of a century all the horrors and scourges which then more than ever war drew in its train. Vincent made urgent appeals to the Ladies of Charity; it has been estimated that at his reiterated requests he secured 12,000 livres equivalent to $60,000 in our time.
When the treasury was empty he again sought alms which he dispatched at once to the stricken districts. When contributions began to fail Vincent decided to print and sell the accounts sent him from those desolated districts; this met with great success, even developing a periodical newspaper called "Le magasin charitable".
All these benefits had rendered the name of Vincent de Paul popular in Paris and even at the Court. Richelieu sometimes received him and listened favorably to his requests; he assisted him in his first seminary foundations and established a house for his missionaries in the village of Richelieu. On his deathbed Louis XIII desired to be assisted by him: "Oh, Monsieur Vincent, if I am restored to health I shall appoint no bishops unless they have spent three years with you." His widow, Anne of Austria, made Vincent a member of the council of conscience charged with nominations to benefices. These honors did not alter Vincent's modesty and simplicity. He went to the Court only through necessity, in fitting but simple garb. He made no use of his influence save for the welfare of the poor and in the interest of the Church.
His exterior life so fruitful in works had its source in a profound spirit of religion and in an interior life of wonderful intensity. He was singularly faithful to the duties of his state, careful to obey the suggestions of faith and piety, devoted to prayer, meditation, and all religious and ascetic exercises. Of practical and prudent mind, he left nothing to chance; his distrust of himself was equaled only by his trust in Providence; when he founded the Congregation of the Mission and the Sisters of Charity he refrained from giving them fixed constitutions beforehand; it was only after tentatives, trials, and long experience that he resolved in the last years of his life to give them definitive rules. His zeal for souls knew no limit; all occasions were to him opportunities to exercise it. When he died died in Paris on September 27, 1660, the poor of Paris lost their best friend and humanity lost a benefactor unsurpassed in modern times.
His body was found to be incorrupt and he joined an exclusive list of the holy incorruptibles. He was placed in a glass encased esophogus which is permanently on view in the church dedicated to his name in Paris. Visitors can mount the stairs behind the main altar to see up close how well preserved God has kept this saintly man's features, a heavenly sign of approval for all St. Vincent de Paul did for God's adopted sons on earth.
(Catholic Encyclopedia)
PROPER of
the MASS ST VINCENT DE PAUL July 19
Saturday of
the Fifth Week after the Octave of Pentecost
Introit: Ps
91:13-14
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a
cedar of Lebanon shall he grow: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts
of the house of our God.
Ps 91:2
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise
to Your name, Most High.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost.
As it was in
the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a
cedar of Lebanon shall he grow: planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts
of the house of our God.
COLLECT
O God, Who endowed St. Vincent with apostolic strength
to preach the Gospel to the poor and to enhance the dignity of clerical life;
grant, we beseech You, that we who honor his holy merits may also conform to
the example of his virtues.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and
reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without
end.
EPISTLE: 1 Cor.
4:9-14
Lesson from
the first letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
Brethren: We have been made a spectacle to the world,
and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ!
We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are without honor! To
this very hour we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and buffeted, and have no
fixed abode. And we toil, working with our own hands. We are reviled and we
bless, we are persecuted and we bear with it, we are maligned and we entreat,
we have become as the refuse of this world, the off scouring of all, even until
now! I write these things not to put you to shame, but to admonish you as my
dearest children, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gradual: Ps
36:30-31
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom, and his
tongue utters what is right.
The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps do
not falter.
Alleluia: Ps
111:1
Alleluia, alleluia
Happy the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights
in His commands. Alleluia.
Luke 10:1-9
At that time, the Lord appointed seventy-two others,
and sent them forth two by two before Him into every town and place where He
Himself was about to come. And He said to them, the harvest indeed is, great,
but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send forth
laborers into His harvest. Go. Behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst
of wolves. Carry neither purse, nor wallet, nor sandals, and greet no one on
the way. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if a
son of peace be there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will
return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they
have; for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. And
whatever town you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you, and
cure the sick who are there, and day to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand
for you.’
Offertory: Ps 20: 2-3
O Lord, in Your strength the just man is
glad; in Your victory how greatly he rejoices! You have granted him his heart’s
desire.
Secret
Grant us, we beseech You, almighty God,
that the offering of our lowliness may be pleasing to You in honor of Your
Saints and may purify us in both body and mind.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who
liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God,
world without end.
Common
Preface
It is truly meet and just, and profitable
unto salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to
thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, through Christ, our Lord.
Though whom the angels praise thy majesty, the dominions adore it, the powers
are in awe. Which the heavens and the hosts of heaven together with the blessed
seraphim joyfully do magnify. And do thou command that it be permitted to us
join with them in confessing thee, while we say with lowly praise:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dóminus, Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus, qui
venit in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.
Communion:
Matt 19:28-29
Amen I say to you that you, who have left
all things and followed Me, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life
everlasting.
Post
Communion
We pray You, almighty God, that we who have
received heavenly nourishment may thereby, through the intercession of blessed
Vincent, Your Confessor, be sustained against all harm and danger.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who
liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God,
world without end.
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