Gospel in Art: Saint Vincent de Paul

Saint Vincent de Paul bringing Galley Slaves to the Faith, by Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ © Church of La Sainte-Trinité de Paris

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 27 September 2025
Luke 9:43b-45

At that time: While they were all marvelling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.' But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Reflection on the Altar Painting

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), one of the Church's great saints of charity. Born in Gascony, France, Vincent was ordained a priest at just 19. Although he began with hopes of a comfortable clerical life, his encounters with poverty and human suffering transformed him into a tireless servant of the poor.

He founded the Congregation of the Mission (known as the Vincentians) to renew the faith of rural communities, and with Saint Louise de Marillac he co-founded the Daughters of Charity, one of the first female religious communities to live and work outside convent walls, directly among the poor.

His extraordinary compassion, organisational genius, and humility made him a beacon of practical Christianity, continuing his ministry until age and illness left him physically unable. Recognising his immense contribution, Pope Leo XIII declared him the patron saint of all works of charity on 12 May 1885.

On this day, we also honour the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP), founded in Paris in 1833 by the young Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and a group of fellow students who wished to put their faith into action. What began as a small group visiting the poor in the slums of Paris has now spread to more than 150 countries across five continents, with over 800,000 members and more than one million volunteers continuing Vincent's mission of love in concrete, practical ways. We pray for all their work today.

Our imposing altar painting (over 3 metres high) from 1876 by Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ, is housed in a side chapel of the Church of La Sainte-Trinité in Paris. It depicts Saint Vincent de Paul bringing Galley Slaves to the Faith. The painting portrays Vincent attending to a group of ragged galley slaves, men who had once rowed under brutal chains. Many are bowed in prayer or deep emotion, raised faces turned toward him. They are looking for help and compassion. Vincent, calm and resolute, extends a hand in blessing, guiding them from physical bondage to look upward to the Body and Blood of Christ in the form of a chalice and the Eucharistic bread, held aloft by an angel. All this is happening under the watchful eye of Our Lady, enthroned and holding her son who is bestowing a blessing upon Saint Paul.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-9-43b-45-2025/