St Vincent de Paul

St Vincent de Paul was a French 17th century priest who dedicated his life to works of charity and brought about desperately needed reform in health and social care.

Together with Saint Louise de Marillac he founded the Daughters of Charity, an order of Sisters dedicated to nursing the sick and caring for the vulnerable.

St Vincent would give the Daughters of Charity spiritual guidance via conferences and much of his advice is also relevant to the modern day healthcare professional.

“If you have to leave prayer to care for a sick person, do so. You will leave God in prayer and you will find Him in the person of the sick. To serve the sick is to make one’s prayer.”

We pray that through the intercession of St Vincent de Paul and the Immaculate Heart of Mary that we may obtain the grace to find in our patients the person of Jesus Christ. When our duties of work or family life keep us from prayer or Holy Mass may we, like the Daughters of Charity be “leaving God for God”.

St Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

– written by a young nurse