The Incorrupt Heart of the Weak (Bede)

Homily - The Incorrupt Heart of the Weak (Bede)

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no flesh might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)

• On April 24, 1581, he was born in the French village of Pouy;
• He came from poor peasant family;

• He was first educated by the Franciscans, and excelled in his studies so much that
• He was hired by a nearby wealthy family to tutor their children;
• At age 15, his father sold the family oxen in order for him to enter the seminary to prepare for the priesthood;

• While studying theology at the University of Toulouse, he also used the monies earned as a tutor to support himself;
• In 1600, He was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ;
• He was 19, five years younger than the age established by the Council of Trent;

• In 1605, while traveling by ship from Marseilles to Narbone, he was captured, brought to Tunis and sold as a slave;
• Two years later he and his master escaped from the Muslim lands and returned to France;
• Upon his return, he completed his studies in Avignon and later in Rome;

• This French priest was appointed chaplain to the Count of Goigny in Rome;
• Who placed him in charge of distributing money to the deserving poor;

• He spent his life for the poor!
• He preached missions, provided relief, and established hospitals for them;
• He founded the Ladies of Charity, a lay institute of woman;
• As well as a religious institute of priests - the Congregation of Priests of the Mission, the Vincentians.

• The Vincentians remain with us today with nearly 4,000 members in 86 countries. 
• And, there are more than 18,000 Daughters today serving the needs of the poor in 94 countries.

• He was eighty years old when he died in Paris on September 27, 1660, and
• He had "become the symbol of the successful reform of the French Church". 

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)

Dearest Brethren in Christ:

In 1737 when SaintVincent de Paul’s body was exhumed, his heart was found to be incorrupt...And, this saint’s heart remains so today!

Grant, O Lord, that we, by lifting our eyes And seeing the fields ripe for harvest Might pray the Lord of the harvestto send forth workersinto the fields. Workers with incorrupt hearts! 

O Sacred Heart of Jesus: Have mercy on us!

— — — — —

Sources

St. Vincent de Paul - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=326

Vincent de Paul

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_de_Paul