July 26, 2025 • 8 mins
Explore the extraordinary life of St. Vincent De Paul, a man of humility, compassion, and generosity whose impact resonates even today. Born around 1581 and living until 1660, Vincents early life was shaped by his own experience of slavery, having been captured by Turkish pirates and sold in Tunis. His escape in 1607 led him to a life of service, becoming a priest and devoting his ministry to the poor. In 1625, he founded the Congregation of the Mission, a society of missionary priests known as Vincentians or Lazarists. Alongside Louise de Marillac, he established the Daughters of Charity, a group dedicated to nursing the sick, whose work in hospitals during several plagues is well-documented. Listen to the tale of this remarkable individual, and discover the lasting legacy of his profound spiritual journey.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter eleven of Life of Saint Vincent de Paul. This
is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit
LibriVox dot org. Life of Saint Vincent de Paul by
Francis Alice Forbes, Chapter eleven, Conefidau. When at last peace
(00:24):
was partially restored to the country, the number of poor
people had enormously increased, and the charities that already existed
were unable to cope with the misery and poverty in Paris.
It was at this time that Vincent conceived the idea
of founding a house of refuge for old men and
women who had no means of gaining a livelihood. The
foundation was placed in the charge of the Sisters of Charity.
(00:48):
Work was provided for those who were able to do it.
The proceeds went to keep up the establishment. So successful
was the venture, and so happy were the poor creatures
who found a comfortable home and kind tree in their
old age, that the Ladies of Charity determined to found
an institution on the same lines for all the beggars
of Paris. A large piece of ground that had been
(01:09):
used for the manufacture of saltpeter was accordingly obtained from
the King, who also gave a large contribution of money
toward the undertaking. The hospital, known as La Saltpetriere, from
the use to which the ground had formerly been put,
was soon in course of building, but the beggars who
were destined to it, many of whom were worthless vagabonds,
(01:33):
showed very little desire for being shut up and employed
in regular work. Vincent would have preferred to begin in
a small way with those who were willing to come in,
but the ladies of Charity, in their enthusiasm, declared that
it would be for the beggar's own good to bring
them in by force, and the King was of their opinion.
The Salpetriere was soon crowded, while the sturdy rascals who
(01:56):
infested the streets and begged under pretense of infirmity were
suddenly cured at the prospect of leading a regular life
and working for their living. Begging at the risk of
being taken off to the Saltpetriere soon became an unpopular occupation,
and the streets of Paris were a good deal safer
in consequence. In sixteen fifty eight two years before his death,
(02:18):
Vincent de Paul gave to the Congregation of Mission Priests
its rule and constitutions. It was the work of God,
he explained to them. There was nothing of his own
in it. If there had been, he confessed humbly, it
would only make him fearful lest his touch might spoil
the rest. Those who listened to him, and who had
been witnesses of his long and holy life, his wisdom
(02:40):
and his charity knew better. Saint Lazarre was a center
where all fervent souls, zealous for the service of God
and the good of others, met to find counsel and
inspiration at the feet of its holy founder. Letters from
all parts of the world, and from all kinds of
people in need of help and counsel, kept the old
man continually busy during the time he was not giving instructions,
(03:01):
visiting the sick, or receiving those who came to ask
his advice. He rose at four o'clock to the very
end of his life, and spent the first hours of
the day in prayer. And this in spite of the
fact that the last years of his life were years
of acute, bodily suffering. His legs and feet, which for
a long time had caused him great pain, became so
(03:22):
swollen and inflamed that every step was torture. Ulcers which
opened and left gaping wounds next made their appearance. He
was said that in earlier years he had taken the
place of an unfortunate man who had been condemned to
the galleys, and who was, in consequence, on the verge
of despair, and that the malady from which he suffered
had been caused by the heavy fetters with which his
(03:44):
legs had been chained to the rover's bench. It was
several months ran the tale before his heroic action had
been discovered, and he was set at liberty to bear
for the rest of his life the penalty of his
noble deed. When asked if this story were true, Vincent
would chaneel subject as quickly as possible, which, to those
who knew how eagerly he always disclaimed, if he could
(04:06):
any action likely to bring honor to himself, seemed a
convincing proof of its truth. With the greatest difficulty, he
was induced, during the last years of his life to
have a fire in his room and to use an
extra coverlet though he reproached himself bitterly in his last
conferences to the mission priests and the Sisters of Charity
for this immortification. But there were sufferings harder than those
(04:30):
of the body. Mazarin was still in power, the accursed
Barter of Bishoprics was still going on, and Vincent was
forced to witness the very abuses against which he had
fought so bravely during the brief time of his influence
at court. The year sixteen sixty brought two great sorrows,
the death of Monsieur Portail, the oldest and best beloved
(04:53):
of Vincent's companions at Saint Lazare, and that of Louise
le Gras, the devoted superior of the Sisters of Charity,
and the woman who had become known as Saint Louis
de Marlac. You are going a little before me, he
wrote to the latter, when he heard that her life
was despaired of. But I shall meet you soon in heaven.
He was unable to go to her, for he could
(05:14):
scarcely walk and was racked with fever. He would struggle
on his crutches as far as the chapel to hear
the mass that he could no longer say, and then
go back again to his room, where he sat at
a little table, working to the last, with a gentle
smile of welcome for all who sought him. The letters
written during the last days of Vincent's life are full
of the same good sense, the same lucid clearness of thought,
(05:37):
the same sympathy and knowledge of the human heart that
always characterized him. Two months before his death, he gathered
the sisters of Charity together and gave them a conference
on the saintly death of their superior. With touching humility.
He asked his dear daughters to pardon him for all
the faults by which he might have offended them, for
(05:57):
any annoyance that his want of pop might have caused them,
and he thanked them for their faithful co operation in
all his schemes of charity. It was now such agony
for him to walk to the chapel that his sons
begged him to allow them to fit up a little
oratory next to his room, where mass might be said,
But Vincent would not hear of it. When they implored
(06:18):
him to allow himself to be carried in a chair,
but unwilling to give others the trouble of carrying him.
He evaded the question until six weeks before his death,
when he could no longer support himself on his crutches.
During the nights of anguish, when his tortured limbs could
find no rest on the hard straw mattress, which he
could never be prevailed upon to change for something softer,
(06:41):
no complaint ever passed his lips. My Savior, my dear Savior,
was his only exclamation on the days that followed these
sleepless nights of pain. He was always smiling and serene
in spite of the weakness that oppressed him. He had help, advice,
and sympathy for everybody. His reward was close at hand.
(07:03):
On the twenty sixth of September sixteen sixty, having been
carried to the chapel for Mass and Holy Communion, he
was taken back to his room, where he fell asleep
in his chair from sheer exhaustion, as he had so
often done before. The brother who had charge of him,
thinking that he slept longer and more heavily than usual,
awakened him and spoke to him. Vincent smiled and answered,
(07:26):
but instantly fell asleep again. The doctor was sent for
and roused him again once more, the same bright smile
lit up the old face. He answered, but had not
sufficient strength to speak more than a few words. In
the evening, they gave him the last sacraments, and he
passed the night in silent prayer. In the early morning,
(07:46):
one of the priests, who belonged to the conferences, and
who was making a retreat in the house, asked the
dying man to bless all the priests for whom he
had done so much, and to pray that his spirit
might be with them. May God, who began the good work,
bring it to perfection, was the humble answer. A little
later he was heard to murmur softly, Confido, I trust,
(08:12):
And with these words on his lips, as a child
puts its hand into that of his father, he gently
gave up his soul to God. End of Chapter eleven,
End of Life of Saint Vincent de Paul by Francis
Alice Forbes.
Chapter eleven of Life of Saint Vincent de Paul. This
is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit
LibriVox dot org. Life of Saint Vincent de Paul by
Francis Alice Forbes, Chapter eleven, Conefidau. When at last peace
(00:24):
was partially restored to the country, the number of poor
people had enormously increased, and the charities that already existed
were unable to cope with the misery and poverty in Paris.
It was at this time that Vincent conceived the idea
of founding a house of refuge for old men and
women who had no means of gaining a livelihood. The
foundation was placed in the charge of the Sisters of Charity.
(00:48):
Work was provided for those who were able to do it.
The proceeds went to keep up the establishment. So successful
was the venture, and so happy were the poor creatures
who found a comfortable home and kind tree in their
old age, that the Ladies of Charity determined to found
an institution on the same lines for all the beggars
of Paris. A large piece of ground that had been
(01:09):
used for the manufacture of saltpeter was accordingly obtained from
the King, who also gave a large contribution of money
toward the undertaking. The hospital, known as La Saltpetriere, from
the use to which the ground had formerly been put,
was soon in course of building, but the beggars who
were destined to it, many of whom were worthless vagabonds,
(01:33):
showed very little desire for being shut up and employed
in regular work. Vincent would have preferred to begin in
a small way with those who were willing to come in,
but the ladies of Charity, in their enthusiasm, declared that
it would be for the beggar's own good to bring
them in by force, and the King was of their opinion.
The Salpetriere was soon crowded, while the sturdy rascals who
(01:56):
infested the streets and begged under pretense of infirmity were
suddenly cured at the prospect of leading a regular life
and working for their living. Begging at the risk of
being taken off to the Saltpetriere soon became an unpopular occupation,
and the streets of Paris were a good deal safer
in consequence. In sixteen fifty eight two years before his death,
(02:18):
Vincent de Paul gave to the Congregation of Mission Priests
its rule and constitutions. It was the work of God,
he explained to them. There was nothing of his own
in it. If there had been, he confessed humbly, it
would only make him fearful lest his touch might spoil
the rest. Those who listened to him, and who had
been witnesses of his long and holy life, his wisdom
(02:40):
and his charity knew better. Saint Lazarre was a center
where all fervent souls, zealous for the service of God
and the good of others, met to find counsel and
inspiration at the feet of its holy founder. Letters from
all parts of the world, and from all kinds of
people in need of help and counsel, kept the old
man continually busy during the time he was not giving instructions,
(03:01):
visiting the sick, or receiving those who came to ask
his advice. He rose at four o'clock to the very
end of his life, and spent the first hours of
the day in prayer. And this in spite of the
fact that the last years of his life were years
of acute, bodily suffering. His legs and feet, which for
a long time had caused him great pain, became so
(03:22):
swollen and inflamed that every step was torture. Ulcers which
opened and left gaping wounds next made their appearance. He
was said that in earlier years he had taken the
place of an unfortunate man who had been condemned to
the galleys, and who was, in consequence, on the verge
of despair, and that the malady from which he suffered
had been caused by the heavy fetters with which his
(03:44):
legs had been chained to the rover's bench. It was
several months ran the tale before his heroic action had
been discovered, and he was set at liberty to bear
for the rest of his life the penalty of his
noble deed. When asked if this story were true, Vincent
would chaneel subject as quickly as possible, which, to those
who knew how eagerly he always disclaimed, if he could
(04:06):
any action likely to bring honor to himself, seemed a
convincing proof of its truth. With the greatest difficulty, he
was induced, during the last years of his life to
have a fire in his room and to use an
extra coverlet though he reproached himself bitterly in his last
conferences to the mission priests and the Sisters of Charity
for this immortification. But there were sufferings harder than those
(04:30):
of the body. Mazarin was still in power, the accursed
Barter of Bishoprics was still going on, and Vincent was
forced to witness the very abuses against which he had
fought so bravely during the brief time of his influence
at court. The year sixteen sixty brought two great sorrows,
the death of Monsieur Portail, the oldest and best beloved
(04:53):
of Vincent's companions at Saint Lazare, and that of Louise
le Gras, the devoted superior of the Sisters of Charity,
and the woman who had become known as Saint Louis
de Marlac. You are going a little before me, he
wrote to the latter, when he heard that her life
was despaired of. But I shall meet you soon in heaven.
He was unable to go to her, for he could
(05:14):
scarcely walk and was racked with fever. He would struggle
on his crutches as far as the chapel to hear
the mass that he could no longer say, and then
go back again to his room, where he sat at
a little table, working to the last, with a gentle
smile of welcome for all who sought him. The letters
written during the last days of Vincent's life are full
of the same good sense, the same lucid clearness of thought,
(05:37):
the same sympathy and knowledge of the human heart that
always characterized him. Two months before his death, he gathered
the sisters of Charity together and gave them a conference
on the saintly death of their superior. With touching humility.
He asked his dear daughters to pardon him for all
the faults by which he might have offended them, for
(05:57):
any annoyance that his want of pop might have caused them,
and he thanked them for their faithful co operation in
all his schemes of charity. It was now such agony
for him to walk to the chapel that his sons
begged him to allow them to fit up a little
oratory next to his room, where mass might be said,
But Vincent would not hear of it. When they implored
(06:18):
him to allow himself to be carried in a chair,
but unwilling to give others the trouble of carrying him.
He evaded the question until six weeks before his death,
when he could no longer support himself on his crutches.
During the nights of anguish, when his tortured limbs could
find no rest on the hard straw mattress, which he
could never be prevailed upon to change for something softer,
(06:41):
no complaint ever passed his lips. My Savior, my dear Savior,
was his only exclamation on the days that followed these
sleepless nights of pain. He was always smiling and serene
in spite of the weakness that oppressed him. He had help, advice,
and sympathy for everybody. His reward was close at hand.
(07:03):
On the twenty sixth of September sixteen sixty, having been
carried to the chapel for Mass and Holy Communion, he
was taken back to his room, where he fell asleep
in his chair from sheer exhaustion, as he had so
often done before. The brother who had charge of him,
thinking that he slept longer and more heavily than usual,
awakened him and spoke to him. Vincent smiled and answered,
(07:26):
but instantly fell asleep again. The doctor was sent for
and roused him again once more, the same bright smile
lit up the old face. He answered, but had not
sufficient strength to speak more than a few words. In
the evening, they gave him the last sacraments, and he
passed the night in silent prayer. In the early morning,
(07:46):
one of the priests, who belonged to the conferences, and
who was making a retreat in the house, asked the
dying man to bless all the priests for whom he
had done so much, and to pray that his spirit
might be with them. May God, who began the good work,
bring it to perfection, was the humble answer. A little
later he was heard to murmur softly, Confido, I trust,
(08:12):
And with these words on his lips, as a child
puts its hand into that of his father, he gently
gave up his soul to God. End of Chapter eleven,
End of Life of Saint Vincent de Paul by Francis
Alice Forbes.
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