3-068-960 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Sermon of Saint Vincent de Paul, Late 18th century. Additional Info: Vincent was born in Pouy, France (today is known as Saint-Vincent-de-Paul) in 1581. After being ordained a priest, he carried out pastoral work, and in 1605, during a voyage in the Mediterranean, he was kidnapped by Islamic pirates from Africa. He managed to escape from captivity in 1607, went to Italy and then returned to France. In 1625, he founded a congregation of missionary priests in Paris, whose aim was to provide pastoral service among the poor. They also were involved in the formation of the clergy, and one of their tasks was to conduct clerical seminaries. In 1633, Vincent also founded a female congregation of the Sisters of Charity (French la charité-charity). Monks were brought from France to Poland by queen Marie Louise in 1651, and Sisters of Charity in 1652, while the founder was still alive (died in 1660). He was beatified in 1729 and canonised in 1737. This Baroque painting shows St Vincent in a typical way, as a preaching priest, wearing a cassock and surplice, with a stole on his neck and a crucifix in hand.