Feastday: 27 September
When did St. Vincent of Paul live: in the fifteenth and sixteenth century
Biography of St. Vincent of Paul:
Vincent was born in Gascony to a family of peasant farmers and studied theology in the French cities Dax and Toulouse. He was ordinated in 1600 and unfortunately taken captive by Barbary pirated who brought him to Tunis. Through a series of lucky events, he managed to escape. After going back to France, he moved to Rome where he continued his studies and was then sent back to France to serve as a chaplain as well as a priest at Clichy. In 1617, he founded the "Daughters of Charity", an organization who supported victims of war and helped freeing slaves from Africa. Vincent de Paul died on the 27th of September in Paris.
Patronage: St. Vincent de Paul is patron saint of hospitals, horses, charities, lost articles, leprosy, volunteers and prisoners.
Statues and wooden sculptures from Val Gardena representing St. Vincent de Paul - portrayal, imagery and emblem: St. Vincent de Paul is shown as a priest with two children.