Catholic Saints — Augustine Institute
Episode: St. Vincent de Paul
Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Mary McGeehan
Guest: Dr. Chris Bloom (Provost, Augustine Institute Graduate School)

Overview

This episode explores the life, spirituality, and enduring legacy of St. Vincent de Paul, offering inspiration for Catholics seeking to embody mercy and humility in their own lives. Dr. Chris Bloom shares detailed insights into St. Vincent's personal transformation from ambitious priest to renowned apostle of charity, founder, and ecclesiastical leader. The conversation delves into the historical context of St. Vincent’s times, his pivotal role in seminary formation, and the active expressions of charity that shape his modern legacy.

Biographical Sketch: The Early Life of St. Vincent de Paul

[00:35 - 03:43]

• Birth and Background: Born around 1580 in southwestern France, from a humble shepherd’s family.
• Ordination and Early Ambition: Ordained before age 20; spent his early priesthood pursuing advancement and comfort.
  • "He was very charming…a bit of a careerist for the next decade." — Dr. Bloom [01:07]
• Turning Point: Captured by pirates at 25, enslaved for two years in North Africa. After escape, returned to France.

Personal Transformation and Spiritual Awakening

[03:43 - 09:51]

• Ecclesiastical Careerism: St. Vincent initially sought comfortable benefices within the Church, reflecting the church culture’s wealth and patronage system of the time.
  • "We don't experience the Church today as a setting to make your career…but in Catholic Europe in the 17th century…" — Dr. Bloom [07:27]
• Influence of Cardinal Berulle: Inspired by Berulle, a mystic who emphasized a “personal relationship with Christ.”
  • "He insisted…the Christian needed to have a personal relationship with Christ." — Dr. Bloom [09:10]
• Moment of Conversion (1617): While in rural ministry, a man’s confession of a long-unconfessed mortal sin awoke St. Vincent to the spiritual deprivation among the country poor.
  • "He realized what this man has carried, thousands are carrying… The poor in the countryside are dying spiritually for lack of priests." — Dr. Bloom [11:18]

Founding Congregations and Lasting Initiatives

[09:51 - 13:50]

• Congregation of the Mission: Established to evangelize and catechize rural populations, address the lack of zealous and educated priests.
• Daughters of Charity: Founded with Louise de Marillac to institutionalize charitable service, particularly corporal works of mercy, at a time when active female congregations were rare.
  • "Vincent de Paul is a trailblazer in that regard." — Dr. Bloom [19:50]
• Training Church Leaders: Dr. Bloom highlights that St. Vincent’s influence helped form at least 20 bishops, demonstrating his impact on the French Church’s hierarchy.

Reformer of the French Church: Responding to the Times

[14:17 - 17:56]

• Context: Post-Council of Trent era. France suffered religious wars, lacked seminaries despite Trent’s mandate.
• Seminary Foundations: Instrumental in founding ~12 seminaries and training priests in zeal, humility, and hard work.
  • "Vincent de Paul ends up being the man who is maybe the most energetic doer of what the Council of Trent had asked for." — Dr. Bloom [16:00]
• Core Virtues: Humility, poverty, hard work, interiority, and service to the poor.
  • "Prayer, humility, hard work, service to the poor." — Dr. Bloom [17:11]

The Meaning of Charity and Spiritual Legacy

[17:56 - 20:58]

• Charity as Lived by St. Vincent: Primarily spiritual works, but fostered corporal works through laywomen’s confraternities and the Daughters of Charity.
  • "He called…these were called the Ladies of Charity…he met a woman named Louise de Marillac…they founded the Daughters of Charity." — Dr. Bloom [19:01, 19:50]
• Legacy: The ethos of practical, organized charity inspires modern organizations like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, established in his honor during the 19th century.
  • "That was not his personal emphasis. It was more spiritual works of mercy for him." — Dr. Bloom [20:23]

Personal and Modern Connections

[21:15 - 21:39]

• Dr. Bloom shares a personal story: His adopted child arrived on St. Vincent’s feast day, September 27, deepening his family’s devotion.

• Reflection on St. Vincent as a “public” saint:

  • "His life was not his own. He was out there doing whatever duty required, he was doing it…a man who's regular in virtue, devoted to duty, courteous, you know, every virtue." — Dr. Bloom [22:24]

• Parallels drawn to St. John Paul II and Mother Teresa:

  • "There's lots of different models of sanctity…in the case of John Paul II and Vincent de Paul, it's really the whole life that presents itself as a marvel." — Dr. Bloom [23:39]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Ambition and Conversion:
  • "He was a bit of a careerist for the next decade…" — Dr. Bloom [01:57]
• On Formation and Priesthood:
  • "The poor in the countryside are dying spiritually for lack of priests." — Dr. Bloom [11:18]
• On Holiness and Daily Life:
  • "If we continue to work hard and push towards the finish line, maybe by the time we're in our late 70s, we'll have some virtue." — Dr. Bloom [24:32]
• On Charity:
  • "If you need to leave prayer to go serve the poor, you can offer that act as prayer to God." — Mary McGeehan [24:32, referencing St. Vincent]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Biographical Overview: [01:07 – 03:43]
• Saint’s Conversion Experience: [09:51 – 11:18]
• Founding the Vincentians & Daughters of Charity: [11:18 – 13:50, 19:01 – 20:58]
• Discussion of Seminary Formation and Legacy: [14:17 – 17:56]
• Dr. Bloom’s Personal Reflection: [21:15 – 21:39]
• Comparisons to Modern Saints: [22:12 – 24:32]
• Closing Reflections on Sanctity: [23:39 – 24:32]

Conclusion

St. Vincent de Paul’s legacy is marked by a radical conversion from clerical careerism to passionate, humble service of the poor and institutional reform of the French Church. His model — grounded in prayer, humility, and tireless acts of mercy — paved the way for modern approaches to charity and priestly formation. His life reminds listeners that sanctity is possible in the daily grind and public labor of Church service.
St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us.