Exhibition of Patron Saints

EXHIBITION OF PATRON SAINTS

Society of Saint Vincent De Paul

The society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a worldwide lay movement that brings God’s love to the poor under the direction of a spiritual adviser.

It was founded in 1833 by a group of students led by a  law student; Fredric Ozanam. A year later they adopted Saint Vincent de Paul as the patron saint. The society has over two million members working in 136 countries. In Saint Vincent de Paul, we live the gospel.

Our patron saint

 Saint Vincent De Paul often referred to as ‘Apostle of Charity’ was born in southern France in 1581 to a poor family. His ambition was to become a priest so that he can provide for his family and live a comfortable life. He achieved this ambition in 1600.

However one day when he was travelling by sea, he was captured and sold as slave to Africa. He was passed from one master to another until he got to a French master who was living in Algeria. The master was a catholic who had converted to Islam. When his master discovered his true identity he gave him his freedom. Vincent de Paul returned to France and worked with a rich family.

Having experienced the life of the poor and rich he found Christ in a new way. He detached himself from his family and decided to spend the rest of his life with the poor. He died in Paris on the 27^th of September 1660. Pope Leo XIII  declared him patron saint of all works of charity.

The important roles he played in the catholic church.

He discovered that helping the poor was something he couldn’t handle alone he enlisted the help of a few priest. Who are now known as the Vincentian priests.

Vincent  organized The Ladies of Charity, a coalition of noblewomen to serve poor people.

With the co-operation of Louise de Marillac in 1633. They founded  the ‘Daughters of charity’.

How Catholics can emulate his lifestyle.

We live in a nation that is creating poverty every day and everywhere. While we wait for the better management of our national affairs. We can help to bind the wounds of those who are being hurt.

The greatest gift we can give to people today is our time, our talent and our treasure. No one is too poor to give. If you don’t have money give your time, If you don’t have time give your talent.

Our Life on Stage

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then, the whining school-boy with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then, a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then, the justice,
In fair round belly, with a good capon lined,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws, and modern instances,
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

This poem by William Shakespeare came true for me on the 9th of September, like a vision from the Lord it dawned on me that the world is indeed a stage.  So then my question is what are you doing on the world's stage?  Where are you at, on the world's stage?  We get on the worlds stage when we are born as babies. At the age of 35-40 we are at the center of the stage. After which you begin to exit the stage. Don't just stand on the world's stage, do something.