This name is familiar in Seattle (and many other places) as referring to a mission that helps the poor with personal visits, thrift stores, and food banks.  The mission was founded to honor Vincent de Paul, who was born in Gascony (southwestern France) in 1576.  He showed an aptitude for learning, so his peasant family arranged for his education.  He was ordained a priest.  It is related that he was captured by pirates and sold into slavery in Africa, but escaped after converting his master to Christianity.  Back in France, he served as a parish priest until appointed Chaplain General for the galleys of France.  Vincent worked to improve the lot of prisoners who were chained to oars and made to row warships about.  He continued all his life to preach the Gospel (the Good News of Christ) especially to peasants and he worked to improve the education and conduct of priests so that they could join him in this mission.  He was an advisor to the aged King Louis XIII, and was one of the council of advisors to the young king Louis XIV.  The Anglican Breviary says, “There was no kind of misery which he did not strive to relieve.  Christians groaning in Mohammedan slavery, foundlings and deformed children, your maidens exposed to danger, houseless nuns and fallen women, convicts sent to the galleys, sick lunatics and beggars without number; all such as these he relieved, and devoutly housed in divers charitable institutions which remain to this day.”  Vincent died in 1660 and was canonized in 1737.  He is regarded as the patron saint of charitable societies.  His feast day is July 19.  Vincent did not work for glory or fame.  He inspires us to work in selfless love for the poor.