We sometimes think Vincent was always focused on ministry focused on the poor. But Vincent grew in wisdom, age and grace. In a legacy article  “Vincent de Paul and his early ministry to the poor” Brian Jackson CM examines three intertwined characteristics in the life of Vincent as he moved towards his primary focus in discipleship: to follow Christ the evangelizer of the poor.
These three are
- The emergence of the poor as central to his ministry
- The emphasis he placed on doing the will of God
- The distinction he made between affective and effective love of the poor
