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Born to a peasant family. A
highly intelligent youth, Vincent spent four years with the Franciscan
friars at Acqs getting an education. Tutor to children of a gentlemen in
Acqs. He began divinity studies in 1596 at the University of Toulouse.
Ordained at age 20.
Taken captive by Turkish pirates to Tunis, and sold into slavery. Freed in
1607 when he converted one of his owners to Christianity.
Returning to France, he served as parish priest near Paris where he
started organizations to help the poor, nursed the sick, found jobs for
the unemployed, etc. Chaplain at the court of Henry IV of France. With
Louise de Marillac, founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity.
Instituted the Congregation of Priests of the Mission (Lazarists). Worked
always for the poor, the enslaved, the abandoned, the ignored, the
pariahs.
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