Today’s Readings – Saint Vincent de Paul

St Vincent de Paul, Priest (Memorial)

Vincent de Paul (Vincent Depaul) was born on 24 April, 1581 of a Gascon peasant family in Pouy, in the south-east of France. He went to a Franciscan school in Dax and graduated in theology at Toulouse University.  He remained in Toulouse until he went to Marseilles to collect an inheritance. On his way back from Marseilles, there is a story he was taken seized by Turkish pirates and brought to Tunis where he was sold as a slave.  But, after converting his ‘owner’ to Christianity, he was freed in 1607.  Some doubt the veracity of this event.

Vincent was ordained priest at the unusually early age of 19.  He began his priestly life as a court chaplain and was supported by the revenues of a commendatory abbey but his life cha … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Monday of Week 26 of Ordinary Time - First Reading

Commentary on Job 1:6-22

After Proverbs and Ecclesiastes we now move on to another ‘wisdom’ book and one of the most profound, the Book of Job.

The book is called after its central character and deals with the problem of the suffering of the innocent. It is regarded as a literary … Continue