Prayer to St. Vincent de Paul, Father of the Poor
Updated: Oct 3
St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) was a French priest who gave his life to the poor, the sick, orphans, prisoners, and galley slaves. He founded the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians) and, with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity, and he taught that serving the poor is serving Christ Himself. Pope Leo XIII named him patron of all charitable societies, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, founded by Bl. Frédéric Ozanam in 1833, still carries his name into parishes around the world.
His feast is September 27. The prayer below, indulgenced by Pope Leo XIII in 1885, asks his help for everyone in need, from the poor and the sick to priests and the whole Church. It is followed by the traditional collect of his feast. Pray them today, and consider an act of charity in his honor: a visit, a meal, or a gift to your local St. Vincent de Paul conference.
The Prayer
O glorious St. Vincent, heavenly patron of all associations of charity and father of all the miserable, who during thy life never rejected anyone who had recourse to thee: ah! behold by how many evils we are afflicted, and come to our assistance. Obtain from our Lord help for the poor, relief for the sick, consolation for the afflicted, protection for the abandoned, charity for the rich, conversion for sinners, zeal for priests, peace for the Church, tranquillity for the people, salvation for all. Let all experience the effects of thy merciful intercession, that, succored by thee in the miseries of this life, they may be united with thee above, where there will be neither sorrow, nor weeping, nor pain, but eternal gladness, joy, and happiness. Amen. Let us pray. O God, who didst strengthen the blessed Vincent with apostolic virtue to preach the gospel to the poor and to promote the honor of the priestly order: grant, we beseech Thee, that as we venerate his pious merits, we may also be edified by his example of virtue. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us.
Sources: Prayer to St. Vincent de Paul from The New Raccolta (Philadelphia: Peter F. Cunningham & Son, from the 1898 Roman edition; indulgenced by Pope Leo XIII, June 23, 1885); collect of his feast from The Mass Every Day of the Year (1916). Both public domain.
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