SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL: (1581-1660) French Catholic Priest. Venerated both in the Catholic Church and the Anglican ...

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''), two pages, 8vo, Paris, 30th August 1658, in French. Saint Vincent de Paul states in part `The grace of Our Lord be with you forever. Madame the Duchess of Aiguillon, to who I once suggested to put the Tunis consulate in the hands of one of those who requested the post, did not find the proposal good enough because she feared that they appoint someone with other interests in order to get rid of the Priest of the Mission…´, further commenting that he will try to discuss the matter again with her and see if there is any change. Saint Vincent further refers to Algiers, stating in part `Considering the actual situation of matters, it is by no means suitable that Mr. Le Vacher goes to Algiers, nor to send funds.. I would tell you Sir that we have to wait and see if M. Knight Paul will take pride in honour to make an effort, or if the mercifulness of Jesus Christ will push him to go and deliver the slaves. If he goes ahead and succeeds things will change..´ Before concluding Saint Vincent de Paul refers to his correspondent´s trip to Toulon and to the hospital for convicts and states `As soon as I get the hospital accounts I will explain to the Duchess of Aiguillon that the hospital cannot subsist any more.´ With blank address leaf. Paper with watermark. Few extremely small ink holes and very light and small age wear, otherwise G to VG Marie Madeleine de Vignerot du Pont de Courlay, Duchesse d'Aiguillon (1604-1675) French Aristocrat, best remembered for her charitable work and her patronage of artists. The Duchess worked with St. Vincent de Paul and helped him to establish the Bicetre Hospital for foundlings. She also took part in re-organizing the Hotel-de-Dieu of Paris. The Duchess was also the patroness of Pierre Corneille who in 1636 dedicated his masterpiece tragedy Le Cid to her.