Antique Medal | Sts. Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac
The front of the medal depicts Saint Vincent de Paul with the words “St. Vincent de Paul, Pray For Us” surrounding him. The back of the medal shows Saint Louise de Marillac with the words “Ste. Louise de Marillac, Pray For Us” above her image.
Dimensions: 1″ in diameter
Saint Vincent de Paul was born to a peasant family in the French village of Pouy in 1581. To pay for his studies of theology, he worked as a tutor for a nearby family. In 1600, he was ordained. While traveling, he was captured, brought to Tunis, and sold as a slave. After two years, he escaped back to France where he continued his ministry. He was eventually made pastor of a parish in Clichy, France where he built a relationship with the poor people of the area. He lived the rest of his life as a minister to the poor of France, helping them meet their needs both materially and spiritually. He also extended this help to convicts. He was passionate in the rehabilitating power of evangelization. He died in 1660 and is the patron saint of charities.
St. Louise de Marillac was born in Meaux, France. By the age of 15, she had lost both of her parents. From a young age, she desired to be a nun. This desire was discouraged by her confessor, and she consented to an arranged marriage. She had a son, and eventually lost her husband to a fatal illness. After this, she met St. Vincent de Paul and eventually started assisting him in his ministries. She helped him aid the poor and eventually had four women under her who were compelled to love the poor too. As the numbers of such women have steadily grown over the years, they are now called the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. St. Louise died in 1660, just six months before St. Vincent’s death, and is patron of the sick, widows, and orphans.
