Holiness, a heavenly goal but deeply rooted in the ground of our everyday experiences, is the beating heart of the papal exhortation ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’. Pope Francis, in words that resonate like a hymn, invites us to recognise that holiness is within everyone’s reach, not just those canonised on our altars. It is an accessible path that winds through small gestures, daily attention, and a love that becomes concrete in service to others.
And who better than St Vincent de Paul embodied this hymn to holiness?
His life was a symphony of works of charity, a living fulfilment of the papal call for holiness without boundaries, a testimony that holiness is not an abstract ideal, but a tangible reality, built day by day with acts of love and dedication.
Born in a remote village in the Landes in 1581, Vincent de Paul was oriented by his parents towards the ecclesiastical state, the only way of social advancement for the lower classes at the time. Ordained a priest at only 19 years of age, his life took a decisive turn when, after going through a period of seeking personal gain, he underwent a profound spiritual conversion. This change was triggered by a meeting with Pierre de Bérulle, who introduced him into the reform circles of the Church of France.
His conversion, which took place between 1608 and 1617, was progressive and transformed him from an ambitious careerist into an intrepid pastor. Pope Francis, in his exhortation, reminds us that ‘holiness is the most beautiful face of the Church’ (no. 9), and St Vincent de Paul certainly showed this face through his tireless commitment to the most needy.
His mission took shape when, during one of his trips to the Gondi estates, he witnessed the spiritual abandonment of the poor neglected by an ignorant and inefficient clergy. This revelation prompted him to found the Companies of Charity and later, together with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity in 1633. Pope Francis emphasises that ‘we are all called to be saints by living with love and offering each one a witness in our daily occupations, wherever we are’ (no. 14), and St Vincent de Paul lived this call every day of his life.
His commitment to the poor and his vision of charity as an act of effective and not just affective love resonate with the words of Pope Francis: ‘This holiness to which the Lord is calling you will grow through small gestures’ (no. 16). St Vincent de Paul made many ‘small gestures’ that together formed a sea of charity and service. He is also called the ‘mystic of charity’.
St Vincent’s spirituality was based on two fundamental discoveries: Christ and the poor. He saw in Christ the missionary of the poor and in the Church the actualisation of this mission. This vision aligns with Pope Francis’ statement that “it is not possible to think of one’s mission on earth without conceiving it as a path to holiness” (no. 19).
St. Vincent de Paul lived a life of humility, a virtue that, as Pope Francis reminds us, is essential for holiness: “The Lord asks for everything, and what he offers is true life, the happiness for which we were created” (no. 1). St Vincent’s humility was rooted in his love for Christ and manifested in his tireless service to the poor.
To fully understand the holiness of St Vincent de Paul, it is necessary to look beyond the details and contemplate the entire span of his life. It is not in the details that perfection can always be found, for even saints can make mistakes. However, it is in the whole of his path of sanctification, in that figure that reflects the intention to live as an imitation of Jesus Christ, that we can see his true message. This is a strong call for all of us, as Pope Francis emphasises: we too are called to conceive the totality of our lives as a mission, listening to God in prayer and recognising the signs he offers us. It is in discerning our mission and allowing the Spirit to mould in us that personal mystery that can reflect Jesus Christ in today’s world, that we can follow the example of St Vincent de Paul and aspire to holiness. Just as the life of St. Vincent was a living witness to the love of Christ, so too the life of every missionary and member of the Congregation of the Mission must be seen in its totality, as a unique and personal journey towards holiness.
Girolamo Grammatico
Communication Office
