<p>St. Vincent was born in France to a family of peasant farmers.&nbsp; He had four brothers and two sisters.&nbsp; He studied in Dax, France, with the Cordeliers, and graduated in Theology in Toulouse.&nbsp; He was Ordained in 1600.&nbsp; He remained in Toulouse until he went to Marseille for an inheritance, and in 1605 on his way back from Marseille Turkish Pirates took him captive.&nbsp; They brought him to Tunis and sold him into slavery.&nbsp; St. Vincent converted his owner to Christianity and then escaped in 1607.&nbsp;</p> <p>After returning to France, St. Vincent went to Rome where he continued his studies until 1609.&nbsp; He was sent back to France on a mission to Henry IV of France, and served as chaplain to Marguerite de Valois.&nbsp; It was here that he began preaching missions to the peasants.&nbsp; In 1622 St. Vincent was appointed chaplain to the galleys and started preaching missions to the galley slaves.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 1625, St. Vincent founded the Congregation of the Mission, a society of missionary priests commonly known as the Vincentians.&nbsp; In 1633 with the help of Louise de Marillac, he founded the Daughters of Charity.&nbsp; He was renowned for his compassion, humility, and generosity, and it was for this reason, that he was known s the &ldquo;Great Apostle of Charity&rdquo;.&nbsp; He died on September 27^th, 1660 and his body lay in a glass reliquary in the Chapel of the headquarters of the Vincentian Fathers in Paris.&nbsp; His heart is still &ldquo;Incorrupt&rdquo;, and is on display in a reliquary in the Chapel of the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris.&nbsp; Pope Clement XII canonized him, in 1737.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a charitable organization dedicated to the service of the poor.&nbsp; French University students established it in 1833, led by the Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and the Society is present and active in 132 countries &ndash; present in nearly every parish in the United States.&nbsp;</p> <h1><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away</strong></span></h1> <p>St. Vincent de Paul was born into a peasant farm family.&nbsp; He studied and became a Priest, and was noted for missions and his preaching.&nbsp; He had profound gifts of compassion, humility, generosity, and charity.&nbsp; He was the founder the Congregation of the Mission, a Society better known as the Vincentians.&nbsp; He also founded the Daughters of Charity.&nbsp; University students in 1833 established the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a charitable society that is present in most parishes.&nbsp; St. Vincent accomplished a lot in his lifetime and his heart was found to be incorrupt.&nbsp; It is displayed in a reliquary in the Chapel of the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>