SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL: (1581-1660)

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL: (1581-1660)
SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL: (1581-1660) French Catholic Priest. Venerated both in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII. Vincent de Paul is known for his humility and for serving the poor. Extremely rare L.S., `Vincent de Paul I.[ndigne] P.[retre] d[e] l[a] M[ission]´, (''Vincent de Paul, Unworthy Priest of the Mission''), three pages, 8vo, Paris, 9th August 1658, to Firmin Get, Superior of the Order at Marseille, in French. Saint Vincent de Paul refers to the sale of the Consulate in Tunis, and expresses his concerns on how will they be able to help the slaves from then on, stating in part `Je suis en grande peine de Mr. Le Vacher de Tunis, n´en ayant reçu aucune nouvelle depuis sa maladie. Si vous en avez appris quelque chose, faites m´en part… Nous ne vous avons pas encore adréssé ce qui nous reste pour les pauvres esclaves, tant a cause des banqueroutes arrivées, qui nous Font tout craindre, que des troubles survenus a la ville de Marseille, qui nous ont fait résoudre d´attendre encore…´ (Translation: "I am in great sorrow for Mr. Le Vacher of Tunis, having received no news from him since his illness. If you have learned anything, let me know… We have not yet sent you what remains for the poor slaves, both because of the bankruptcies that have occurred, which make us fear everything, and the troubles that have occurred in the city. of Marseilles, which made us resolve to wait…") Saint Vincent de Paul further refers to the Duchess of Aiguillon and to the Consulate in Tunis, saying `Madame la Duchesse d´Aiguillon n´étant pas ici pour lui parler de la vente du consulat de Tunis, je ne puis vous résoudre cela, qu´elle ne soit de retour du Havre. Je vous dirai néanmoins par avance que, si l´on vend, il est a craindre que le consul ne veuille souffrir un prêtre aupres de lui et qu´il trouve moyen de s´en défaire pour être plus libre de faire ce qu´il voudra… et qu´ainsi on ne puisse plus assister les pauvres esclaves; or, la privation de ce bien serait un grand mal pour eux… Je suis bien affligé du blocus de Marseille, et je prie N.S. qu´il ne permette pas que ce trouble naissant aille plus Avant, car il ne peut apporter que desolation…´ (Translation: "As the Duchess of Aiguillon is not here to talk to her about the sale of the consulate in Tunis, I cannot solve this for you until she is back from Le Havre. I will nevertheless tell you in advance that, if they sell, it is to be feared that the consul will not want to suffer a priest near him and that he will find a way to get rid of him to be more free to do whatever he wants... and therefore we will no longer be able to attend the poor slaves; and the deprivation of this good would be a great loss for them… I am very distressed by the blockade of Marseilles, and I pray Our Lord that he does not allow this incipient trouble to go further, because it can only bring desolation…") G to VG

Firmin Get (1621-1682) Superior of the Mission in Marseille.
Vincent de Paul established a mission in Tunisia in 1648, appointing at the head of it Jean le Vacher (1619-1683), and trying to help and assist white Christians held as slaves. Jean le Vacher was appointed French consul and continued Vincent de Paul work after the priest passed away. Le Vacher died tied to a cannon refusing to apostatise when the local Dey obliged him to.
Marie Madeleine de Vignerot du Pont de Courlay (1604-1675) Duchess of Aiguillon. She was the daughter of Cardinal Richelieu´s sister. French Aristocrat, remembered for her charitable work and patronage.