Saints and Blessed of the Vincentian Family

Blessed Josef Mayr-Nusser was a Catholic layman, husband, father, and Vincentian who refused to swear loyalty to Hitler, choosing death over violating his conscience and the First Commandment. His life and martyrdom stand as a powerful witness to the sanctity of the laity, the primacy of God, and the courage of living the Gospel without compromise.

Blessed Federico Albert, a 19th-century Italian priest, devoted his life to serving the poor with humility, founding the Albertine Sisters and choosing faithful presence over prestige. His legacy shines as a quiet yet powerful witness to everyday holiness rooted in love, service, and deep trust in God.

After his death in 1660, Vincent de Paul was quickly venerated by the faithful, and the Church formally recognized his sanctity through a thorough canonization process that culminated in 1737. His elevation to sainthood highlighted the holiness found in active charity and service to the poor, inspiring generations to follow his example.

The Vincentian charism is a Spirit-given gift of practical, humble, and loving service to the poor, rooted in seeing Christ in them and caring for both their material and spiritual needs. It has shaped Catholic charity for over four centuries through personal encounter, social empowerment, and collaborative, adaptive outreach involving clergy, laity, men, and women alike.

Émilie Gamelin transformed profound personal sorrow into a life of compassionate service, founding the Sisters of Providence to care for the most marginalized in 19th-century Montreal.

Vincent de Paul’s spirituality was deeply rooted in prayer, trust in Divine Providence, and a Christ-centered love that found expression in both contemplation and tireless service to the poor. He taught that serving others with love is itself a form of prayer, integrating inner union with God and concrete acts of charity into one seamless path to holiness.

Vincent de Paul lived the virtues of charity, humility, simplicity, gentleness, zeal, and prudence to a heroic degree, embodying the Gospel through tireless service to the poor and the Church. His integrated, joyful, and deeply human holiness made him not only a saint in action but also a model of Christian virtue for all generations.

St. Vincent de Paul recognized that a key to Church renewal was reforming and educating the clergy, so he pioneered priestly retreats, helped establish seminaries, and created spiritual support networks like the Tuesday Conferences. His efforts shaped a generation of well-formed, compassionate priests, becoming a cornerstone of the 17th-century Catholic revival in France.

Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac co-founded the Daughters of Charity in 1633, creating a groundbreaking community of women dedicated to serving the poor through active ministry in the world. Their model redefined women’s roles in the Church, enabling them to work outside cloisters, in hospitals, streets, and schools.