On This Day September 27, AD1660
By Khen Lim
Image source: vincentonleadership.org
When a little ship came to bay in Tunis, pirates brought
Vincent de Paul to shore with other Christian-born captives, ready for the
slavery market but hours earlier, he was a free man. Here he was, having been
captured by Muslim Barbary pirates as one of few who survived the massacre.
But
God’s merciful hand must have been on Vincent because the master who bought him
was a kindly old Muslim who offered him to be his heir but only if he renounced
Christ and became a Muslim. He refused, living on until the old man died after
which he was sold to a former Christian but now Muslim man and his four wives.
One of the wives was so impressed by his testimony that she chided her husband
for turning his back on Christ.
The result was the man returned to his Christian
faith, took Vincent along and together, fled from Africa to France, leaving his
wives behind. In France, again Vincent’s life so impressed the Countess of
Joigny that she coaxed him to minister to her tenants. His preaching was so
effective that so many came to him to repent that he had to enlist the help of
a few priests to hear their confessions.
Image source: crossroadsinitiative.com
Vincent left and settled in Chatillon-les-Dombes where in
helping to restore a ruined church, he led another revival. Even local
aristocrats were humbled and repented. With generous funding from the Countess,
Vincent founded the Lazarists and dedicated the group to teach, preach and do
charitable works. In America, his name is household for shops that offer good
and affordable second-hand things to help the poor. He also attended to the sick
and opened a home for those broken down by hard labour. He raised enough to
ransom 1,200 Christians who were enslaved by Muslims in North Africa too.
The Spirit of God had worked wonderfully in this old man
until one day, on Sept 27 1660, he was seated in his chair and summarily
slipped away only to be forever known for his deeds.
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