Saint Vincent de Paul Day in Madagascar

Saint Vincent de Paul, patron saint of MadagascarSaint Vincent de Paul was an apostle of love and one of the greatest French saints. He was born in 1581 in a peasant family. He was ordained a priest under the age of 20.

Five years later, while traveling by sea, his ship was captured by Moorish pirates who transported him to Africa and sold him into slavery. He was released in 1607.

When Saint Vincent returned to France, he became a parish priest near Paris. He later founded the Order of Sisters of Mercy, the first gathering of women to care for the poor and sick outside the monastery.

Saint Vincent de Paul dedicated his entire life to serving the poor. He died in 1660 in Paris, and was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737. Saint Vincent de Paul is patron of charities, hospitals and hospital workers, prisoners, volunteers and Madagascar.