Catholic Review of: Monsieur Vincent

Before I watched this film I knew almost nothing about the life of St. Vincent de Paul. I knew of the religious orders he founded and, of course, of the many St. Vincent de Paul societies which operate thrift stores and help people who have fallen on hard times or otherwise need assistance.

I've watched several films of the lives of saints. Most are highly sentimentalized and seem to be filmed with some kind of diffused lighting which adds a romantic feeling to the subject - this film is completely different and refreshingly so. It was made in 1947, but don't let that be an issue for you. In 1948 this film won best film awards in France, Belgium, Italy and won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. There is a reason this film won so many awards - although filmed in black & white, a master cinematographer was in charge and it is visually simple and stunning. Portrayal of life in 17th century France is gritty and realistic. Pierre Fresnay, the actor who portrays Monsieur De Paul, is an accomplished, expressive and utterly sympathetic actor.

The film shed new light for me on the whole idea of "Catholic France" or, perhaps, what we assume a "Catholic country" to be like. In the 17th century most people in France, peasant and gentry alike, had lost their faith. Catholicism was a distant, unrecalled memory. Decadence, despair, poverty, disease had descended over the nation and much of western Europe. The whole fabric of society, or civilization, was at stake and unravelling quickly. Into this breach walked a simple, humble priest - Monsieur Vincent. In the darkest of times, God calls the greatest saints.

St. Vincent came from a peasant family and was held as a slave on the Barbary Coast for two years, a very dark time in his life this film tells us. Freed, he became a priest and was assigned to be a chaplain to a wealthy Duke and Duchess. While he was instrumental in changing their lives, Monsieur Vincent knew God was calling him to something else. He left his assignment with the wealthy, and travelled to a poor country village which had not had a priest in over ten years. The somewhat naive, but resolute, young priest transformed that hardscrabble village - with citizens just as hard - and the film's scenes of this time in his life are especially moving as we see the saint starting to be transformed in Christ.

After his village experience, and a growing realization that poverty and destitution, in addition to apostasy, were widespread in society, Monsieur Vincent knew he was called to make a difference and do something about it. It seems he stood, alone, as one man against all odds, yet he ventured forth. He was afraid, he did not know what to do, but he knew Christ was with him.

St. Vincent became the first saint to engage in corporal works of mercy as his apostolate and on an unprecedented scale. Much of what the world today knows of as works to relieve suffering and help the poor, whether they be soup kitchens or hosptals for the mentally ill or orphanages for unwanted babies, were first envisioned and started by this great saint. He founded the first order of sisters which did not live a conventual life. His sisters were active in the world, the Daughters of Charity, and lived with the poor, in often times appalling situations, just like St. Vincent himself. When the sisters went out to do their work, they were often attacked by mobs and beaten or robbed of what little they had, but like Monsieur Vincent they pressed on.

St. Vincent had a transformative effect on French society of his time. Beloved by peasants and royalty, for his service to the French people, its hard to grasp the scope of his work, the tremendous achievements of one, humble man who tried to do what Christ told him to do. He did so very much. In his life, Monsieur Vincent felt he had done so little. At the end he said "I have done so little, so little for my Master who is so great and good. Lord be merciful to me and let me see your face when I am done here." By the time of his death, his apostolate had spread to Italy and Spain. Today the Vincentians and the Daughters of Charity work all over the world.

Amazing, inspiring, awesome. I wholeheartedly recommend this film to all Catholics. We can all benefit from knowing more about the life and work of St. Vincent De Paul, the humble Monsieur Vincent, who helped to tranform France and the whole world.