I hope you are well. I’d like to share some exemplary lives with you in a few emails I will be sending out. One is Vincent DePaul, a Frenchman and ordained minister, born in Pouy, France on the 24th of April 1581 and who died in Paris on September 27th, 1660. Vincent dedicated himself to serving the poor. His life is a testimony of many wonderful deeds and works that have filled volumes.
I’d like to share just one of many stories: In Vincent’s day, Paris was torn as many people lived selfishly. This caused problems which were compounded by poverty and unemployment. Every year, several hundred newborn children were found in the streets, abandoned at night by their mothers because they themselves could not or would not feed them. The police did attempt to care for these helpless little ones but what they were able to do was so insufficient that many children died miserably. Vincent was moved by their suffering and through his persuasion, a number of wealthy Christian women formed a Christian Women’s Association which rented a house to care for at least some of the children they found. Contributions did come in from some sources, but the number of children taken in had grown so much that it became increasingly difficult to cover the costs of caring for them.
The Christian Women’s Association became overwhelmed and considered abandoning the cause and simply handing the children over to the police once again, despite the fact that doing so would be a death sentence. Vincent held a meeting in the house to discuss what to do. After everything had been mutually discussed, Vincent turned to the women, and pleaded with them saying:
” Out of compassion and Christian love you accepted these little creatures as your children, from which time you became their spiritual mothers after their natural mothers cast them out. Why then, ladies, will you now cast them out as well? You determine their destiny at this moment! Their life and death depend on you. I will now call for a vote. You must explain to yourselves whether, despite the hardship, you also want to be merciful towards them. They will live, these poor children, if you continue to care for them with love, but experience has taught us that they will certainly die if you leave them.”
After his emotional appeal, everyone wept, and with their compassion welling up, they unanimously decided to continue the good work. Now the focus became how to raise the necessary funds. With the ladies’ determination to save the children, despite the hardship, God blessed their work and the organization received many contributions. Consequently, countless children were kept alive, taught the Gospel and became happy, productive members of society.
Why do we now know about Vincent, four hundred years after his death? Because many years ago someone bothered to write this story and many others about Vincent down. Because of this, his story has touched hundreds of thousands of lives in the past and continues to inspire lives to this day. Do you know of an inspiring life worth sharing with others? Of course you do. Consider writing it down on our MemoriesofLife.com website which is coming soon or, if this person has already passed, on ChristianMemorials.com and allow that person to minister to others for years to come!
God bless,
John
Link to Vincent DePaul’s memorial:
