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Life of St. Vincent de Paul
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
73 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1919
37 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
F.A. Forbes
75 books20 followersF. A. Forbes (16 March 1869 – 1936) was the nom de plume of Mother Frances Alice Monica Forbes, RSCJ, a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart from Scotland and a religious author.
She was born in 1869 as Alice Forbes into a Presbyterian family. Her mother died when she was a child. In 1900 she became a Roman Catholic. Only a few months later, she entered the Society of the Sacred Heart, as a 31-year-old postulant.
She wrote numerous books, including brief biographies of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Saint John Bosco, Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint Columba, Saint Monica, Saint Athanasius, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Benedict, Saint Hugh of Lincoln, Saint Vincent de Paul, and, most famously, Pope Saint Pius X. She died in 1936.
She was born in 1869 as Alice Forbes into a Presbyterian family. Her mother died when she was a child. In 1900 she became a Roman Catholic. Only a few months later, she entered the Society of the Sacred Heart, as a 31-year-old postulant.
She wrote numerous books, including brief biographies of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Saint John Bosco, Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint Columba, Saint Monica, Saint Athanasius, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Benedict, Saint Hugh of Lincoln, Saint Vincent de Paul, and, most famously, Pope Saint Pius X. She died in 1936.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 27, 2014
Quick, easy-to-read, introductory biography about this important 17th century saint of charity. Contains enough information to give you a brief outline of his life and a few illustrative, and sometimes even humorous examples from his life, including this one: St. Vincent convincing the weak Queen Anne her appointment of a profligate priest to a post as bishop was ill-advised, received the unenviable commission to relay the Queen's decision to renege her offer to the duchess mother of said priest. For his efforts he was rewarded with a footstool to the head. In reply he only commented on the extent to which some mothers would go for their sons.
Forbes' book only whetted my appetite for more information about this fascinating priest and saint.
Forbes' book only whetted my appetite for more information about this fascinating priest and saint.
September 28, 2017
"Extend mercy toward others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His mercy from us?"
I read this book to learn more about the Saint my church is named for. This was a quick and interesting read. Of course it made me want to strive to be a better person ~ to be more giving, humble and loving. And while this man lived in the 1500/1600's his words and actions are still very relevant today. Quite needed actually! You see, St. Vincent ministered to convicts, the poor, the homeless, abandoned infants and children, and the otherwise forgotten. Even though, these were the people that were ignored and persecuted, St. Vincent looked at them all as if seeing God's face in each one of them. He said he found it a privilege to be in their company. Could you even imagine a world in which everyone we looked at we saw the face of God within them? I want to ~ I want to be more like St. Vincent!
I think everyone could gain at minimum a little nugget of wisdom from reading this book and it might even spur you to go beyond yourself!
"We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love."
I read this book to learn more about the Saint my church is named for. This was a quick and interesting read. Of course it made me want to strive to be a better person ~ to be more giving, humble and loving. And while this man lived in the 1500/1600's his words and actions are still very relevant today. Quite needed actually! You see, St. Vincent ministered to convicts, the poor, the homeless, abandoned infants and children, and the otherwise forgotten. Even though, these were the people that were ignored and persecuted, St. Vincent looked at them all as if seeing God's face in each one of them. He said he found it a privilege to be in their company. Could you even imagine a world in which everyone we looked at we saw the face of God within them? I want to ~ I want to be more like St. Vincent!
I think everyone could gain at minimum a little nugget of wisdom from reading this book and it might even spur you to go beyond yourself!
"We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love."
June 9, 2019
While at a coffee shop in Paris, Terres de Cafe, my wife, son, and I met an older couple visiting Paris as well. Their entire trip was based on the teaching and ministry of Saint Vincent de Paul. We not very familiar with him and as they told us more and more, I became passionate to learn more about this man. While reading this book, often with my jet lagged baby, I was challenged in my faith and I found myself crying at the stories of this man’s faith, especially at his death. What a beautiful representation of our lord.
July 15, 2020
2.75 stars
April 30, 2018
Brief and wonderful info on the life of this great saint.
July 17, 2018
I am a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society at our parish and wanted to become more familiar with St Vincent and his love for charity. Nice short easy read that gave a glimpse into his life.
October 24, 2020
Very good read
I did not know anything about St Vincent de Paul so found this short book informative and detailed but not so much that it became boring. I certainly recommend it.
I did not know anything about St Vincent de Paul so found this short book informative and detailed but not so much that it became boring. I certainly recommend it.
March 10, 2025
🖊️ What an edifying and interesting biography on one of the Church’s more well-known saints. It was so captivating, I read it in one evening. There were many facts about Saint Vincent de Paul that I did not know until reading this biography. This was well worth reading!
CONTENTS:
1. A Peasant's Son
2. Slavery
3. A Great Household
4. The Galleys
5. Mission Work
6. The Grey Sisters
7. The Foundlings
8. At Court
9. The Jansenists
10. Troubles in Paris
11. "Confido"
Note about the authoress: F. A. Forbes (1869–1936) was the nom de plume of Frances Alice Monica Forbes, RSCJ, a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart. She was born in Scotland as Alice Forbes into a Presbyterian family. In 1900 she became a Roman Catholic. A short time later, she entered the Society of the Sacred Heart, as a 31-year-old postulant. From there, she wrote many religious biographies, most famously one about Pope Saint Pius X.
📕 Published —1919, and now in the public domain.
જ⁀ 🍋 Read on Project Gutenberg.
જ⁀🍇 Kindle.
🕊️▪️🕊️▪️🕊️
CONTENTS:
1. A Peasant's Son
2. Slavery
3. A Great Household
4. The Galleys
5. Mission Work
6. The Grey Sisters
7. The Foundlings
8. At Court
9. The Jansenists
10. Troubles in Paris
11. "Confido"
Note about the authoress: F. A. Forbes (1869–1936) was the nom de plume of Frances Alice Monica Forbes, RSCJ, a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart. She was born in Scotland as Alice Forbes into a Presbyterian family. In 1900 she became a Roman Catholic. A short time later, she entered the Society of the Sacred Heart, as a 31-year-old postulant. From there, she wrote many religious biographies, most famously one about Pope Saint Pius X.
📕 Published —1919, and now in the public domain.
જ⁀ 🍋 Read on Project Gutenberg.
જ⁀🍇 Kindle.
🕊️▪️🕊️▪️🕊️
October 3, 2017
Inspirational
I would like have liked the book to have included at end a bit on his legacy and how his amazing life inspired many hundreds of thousands to take up the work of St Vincent de Paul Society which today is known as largest voluntary charity in the world.
I would like have liked the book to have included at end a bit on his legacy and how his amazing life inspired many hundreds of thousands to take up the work of St Vincent de Paul Society which today is known as largest voluntary charity in the world.
January 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this. I was bummed to be told there’s evidence he wasn’t kidnapped by pirates or sold into slavery which makes you wonder how much of the rest of it is accurate but I still found it inspiring.
January 29, 2021
It's an interesting little biography of a Roman Catholic priest, but the author's personal commentary and condemnation of all things non-Catholic was pretty galling to this Protestant.
September 30, 2023
A lovely book on this great saint -the patron saint of charities and volunteers. St. Vincent de Paul pray for us!
November 16, 2023
Forbes communicates a lot about this saint and his beautiful virtues in this small book.
May 26, 2024
A magnificent person with a generous heart. It is no surprise that his life and work is carried on today. If only more people could have lived like him, the world would be a better place.
January 6, 2025
It's not the book for you if you're looking for an in-depth/academic/historical biography.
It was a great, short book on St. Vincent.
(It did have very devotional writing if that's a pro or con)
It was a great, short book on St. Vincent.
(It did have very devotional writing if that's a pro or con)
January 18, 2025
I just finished reading the biography on St. Vincent de Paul. He led a very unusual and interesting life.
December 3, 2025
The reason I read this may seem a little odd. I have donated things at various times and found that when I took things to the local Salvation Army I never got so much as a brief thank you. I decided to try donating things to St .Vincent de Paul and was thanks and treated very nicely.
So I decided to read up on him. The book goes into his history, how he became a priest and his very basic and very good approach to sermons. Make them understandable and keep them relatively simple. He dedicated his life to helping others and asking nothing in return.
His influence expanded as he got others involved in the same kind of approach to helping others in need without any expectations of financial return. He helped others get involved with caring for orphans.
This was a time in France of major poverty, suffering and warfare. The country desperately needed people like him who was willing to help others and he did that in a superb manner. Definitely a major positive influence on others.
So I decided to read up on him. The book goes into his history, how he became a priest and his very basic and very good approach to sermons. Make them understandable and keep them relatively simple. He dedicated his life to helping others and asking nothing in return.
His influence expanded as he got others involved in the same kind of approach to helping others in need without any expectations of financial return. He helped others get involved with caring for orphans.
This was a time in France of major poverty, suffering and warfare. The country desperately needed people like him who was willing to help others and he did that in a superb manner. Definitely a major positive influence on others.
October 20, 2021
I knew next to nothing about Vincent de Paul before reading this book. I knew that most local Catholic churches have a Vincent de Paul Society that assists the poor, but I knew almost nothing about the man the society was named for.
This is a well-written biography that hits all of the highlights of the humble priest's life. I recommend this to anyone interesting in learning about the lives of the great Catholic saints.
This is a well-written biography that hits all of the highlights of the humble priest's life. I recommend this to anyone interesting in learning about the lives of the great Catholic saints.
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October 28, 2018???
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews