Movie of the Week

Monsieur Vincent has just been released on DVD. It won an academy award in 1948 for best foreign film. Based on the life of St. Vincent De Paul, the movie recounts his work in seventeenth century France to ease the plight of the poor. Born to a peasant family, a highly intelligent young man, Vincent spent four years with the Franciscan friars at Acq, France getting an education. He served as tutor to children of a gentlemen in Acq. He began divinity studies in 1596 at the University of Toulouse, and was ordained at age 20. Taken captive by Turkish pirates to Tunis, he was sold into slavery. He was freed in 1607 when he converted one of his owners to Christianity. Returning to France, he served as parish priest near Paris where he started organizations to help the poor, nursed the sick, and found jobs for the unemployed. He was chaplain at the royal court.With Louise de Marillac, founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity. He instituted the Congregation of Priests of the Mission (also known as the Vincentians or Lazarists). He worked always for the poor, the enslaved, the abandoned, the ignored, the pariahs. Don’t expect a lot of sentiment in this movie. Like its subject, the movie is simple, austere, realistic, practical, and ultimately inspiring.