Vincent was born in a village in Gascony, France, in 1581. He completed his studies and was ordained a priest in 1600. He was then assigned to a church in Paris.
When attending a peasant who was seriously ill, Vincent witnessed the misery of the peasant people.He founded a society of priests to work for the releif of poor peasants.
With the help of Louise Marillac he founded, the Society of “The Sisters of Charity” to attend to the poor and sick and to conduct homes for foundlings, orphans and the aged. He worked among galley-slaves and rescued hundreds of slaves in North-Africa. He died on the 27th of September 1660, in Paris.
Vincent, the peasant priest, was declared a saint in 1737 and later he was proclaimed patron of all charitable societies.

Outstanding among them is the society that bears his name and is infused with his spirit.This society was founded in Paris by Frederic Ozanam in the year 1833. It bears the name “The Society of Vincent de Paul.”

Vincent wrote :

We should not judge the poor by their clothes,
outward appearance nor by their mental capacity.
We should be caring for the poor, consoling them,
helping them, guiding them.

The service of the poor is to be preferred to all
else. Pray to God to inspire us with compassion
and pity