Kidnapped by Muslim Outlaws

Father Vincent was held captive for two years. During that time, however, he succeeded in bringing one of his chief captors to Christ and the two of them made their escape.

His ministry thereafter would have a special focus on prisoners as well as the poor. He also saw a need for better formation of priests and by the end of his life his religious order was running a third of the seminaries in the country.

St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Congregation of the Mission and of the Daughters of Charity, died on this very day in 1660. He was canonized in 1737. A hundred years later, laymen drew upon St. Vincent as their inspiration for serving the poor and founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society.