“Gratis” – A Refrain in Vincent’s Writings –
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35312/nbafgn29Keywords:
Gratis, Vincent de Paul, Retreat of priests, MissionAbstract
This article examines the recurring theme of “gratis” in the writings of Saint Vincent de Paul and argues that it was a foundational principle of his spirituality, missionary strategy, and institutional vision. For Vincent, evangelization and works of charity were to be offered freely, reflecting Christ's command: “Freely you have received; freely give.” This conviction shaped the organization of the Congregation of the Mission and other Vincentian foundations, requiring stable financial resources so that the poor would never bear the cost of pastoral or charitable services. Drawing on Vincent's correspondence, conferences, foundational documents, and the Common Rules, the study demonstrates that gratis was not merely an economic policy but a theological expression of divine charity, evangelical poverty, and missionary freedom. It remains a challenging and prophetic principle for the Vincentian Family, inviting renewed reflection on mission, stewardship, and service to the poor.
References
Contassot, Felix C.M. 1959. “La vie matérielle des Missionnaires” (1959). Unpublished study is found in the Archives of the Congregation of the Mission, Paris, France.
Corera, Jaime C.M. 1977. “Las bases económicas de la comunidad vicenciana,” Anales de la Congregación de la Misión y de las Hijas de la Caridad, 85:4 (April, 1977) pp. 462-484, reprinted in his Diez Estudios Vicencianos (Santa Marta de Tormes, 1983), pp. 129-157.
Corera, Jaime C.M. 1995. “Bienes,” Diccionario de la Espiritualidad Vicenciana (Santa Marta de Tormes, 1995), pp. 43-46.
Coste, Pierre. 1935. The Life and Labours of Saint Vincent de Paul, translated by Joseph Leonard (London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne, 1935) II.
Grossi, Getúlio Mota C.M. 2016. Un Místico de la Misión, Vicente de Paúl (Madrid: Editorial LA MILAGROSA, 2016), 119-164.
Jacquart, Jean. 1986. “Saint Vincent’s Real Estate Policy,” Vincentian Heritage 7, no. 2 (1986), 181-203, trans. Jacqueline Kilar, D.C.; José María Román, C.M., St. Vincent de Paul. A Biography, trans. Sr. Joyce Howard, D.C., (London, 1999), 293-95, chap. XVI, “The struggle to put the company on a more solid financial basis”; his “The Foundations of Saint Vincent de Paul,” trans. Stafford Poole, C.M., Vincentian Heritage, 9, no. 2 (1988), 134-60.
Feillet, Alphonse. 1868. La misère au temps de la Fronde et Saint Vincent de Paul, 4th ed. (Paris, 1868).
Féron, Alexandre. 1930. La Vie et les Œuvres de Charles MAIGNART de BERNIÈRES (Rouen, 1930).
Jacquart, Jean. 1983. “La politique foncier de Monsieur Vincent,” in Vincent de Paul. Acts du colloque international d’études vincentiennes (Paris, 1981) (Rome, 1983), pp. 129-143; English version: “Saint Vincent’s Real Estate Policy,” Vincentian Heritage 7, no. 2 (1986), pp. 181-203, trans. Jacqueline Kilar, D.C.
Feillet, Alphonse. 1868. La Misère au Temps de la Fronde et Saint Vincent de Paul, fourteenth edition abridged and corrected (Paris: Didier et Cie, 1868).
Koch, Bernard C.M. 1992. “Saint Vincent Gestionnaire” (1992). Unpublished study is found in the Archives of the Congregation of the Mission, Paris, France.
Koch, Bernard C.M. 1998. "Une Lettre Inédite de Saint Vincent: Supplique 1645," Vincentiana: Vol. 42 (1998): No. 1, Article 19. Available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vincentiana/vol42/iss1/19.
Maloney, Robert P., C.M. 2019. Mystic of Charity (St. Louis, MO: Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 2019), chapter 8, p. 133-144.
Maynard, Abbé. 1860. Saint Vincent de Paul (Paris: Ambroise Bray, 1860) IV.
de Marillac, Louise. Spiritual Writings, p. 50. Cf. http://via.library.depaul.edu/ldm/11
de Paul, Vincent. 1985. Correspondence, Conferences, Documents (CCD), translators: Helen Marie Law, DC (Vol. 1), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 1-14), James King, CM (Vol. 1-2), Francis Germovnik, CM (Vol. 1-8, 13a-13b [Latin]), Esther Cavanagh, DC (Vol. 2), Ann Mary Dougherty, DC (Vol. 12); Evelyne Franc, DC (Vol. 13a-13b), Thomas Davitt, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Glennon E. Figge, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), John G. Nugent, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Andrew Spellman, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]); edited: Jacqueline Kilar, DC (Vol. 1-2), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 2-14), Julia Denton, DC [editor-in-chief] (Vol. 3-10, 13a-13b), Paule Freeburg, DC (Vol. 3), Mirian Hamway, DC (Vol. 3), Elinor Hartman, DC (Vol. 4-10, 13a-13b), Ellen Van Zandt, DC (Vol. 9-13b), Ann Mary Dougherty (Vol. 11, 12 and 14); annotated: John W. Carven, CM (Vol. 1-14); New City Press, Brooklyn and Hyde Park, 1985-2014.
de Paul, Vincent. 1658. Common Rules.
Pope Alexander VII. 1659. On August 12, in Alias Nos is brief but not easy to understand today (hence, the need for an “interpretation” by the 1974 General Assembly).
Pope Urban VIII. 1633. Salvatoris Nostri, Bull of Erection of the Congregation of the Mission (January 12. 1633).
Recueil des Relations contenant ce qui s'est fait pour l'assistance des pauvres. Entre autres ceux de Paris et des environs, ceux des Provinces de Picardie et Champagne, pendant les ans 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653 et 1654 (Paris, 1655).
Rigazio, Alejandro C.M. 1988. Administration des biens, selon l’esprit de Saint Vincent, trans. Georges Baldacchino, Bulletin des Lazaristes de France, 113 (Février, 1988), pp. 21-37; 114 (Avril, 1988), pp. 23-35.
Roman, Jose Maria C.M. 1984. “Las Fundaciones de San Vicente,” Vincentiana 27:4-6 (July-December, 1984) pp. 457-486, English: “The Foundations of Saint Vincent de Paul” trans. Stafford Poole, C.M. Vincentian Heritage, 9, no. 2 (1988), pp. 134-160.
Román, José-María. 1999. St. Vincent de Paul, a Biography, translated by Joyce Howard, D.C. (London: Fox Communications, 1999).
Rybolt, John. 2005. “St. Vincent de Paul and Money,” Vincentian Heritage Journal 26 (2005) 81-103 and “Vincent de Paul as a fundraiser: his attitudes and practices,” which can be found at https://works.bepress.com/john_rybolt/64/
Wulfman, Rene. 1998. Charité publique et Finances Privées: Monsieur Vincent. Gestionnaire et Saint, Villeneuve d’Ascq. Presses Universitaires du Septentrion (1998).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Robert P. Maloney, C.M. (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
License and Copyright Agreement
In submitting the manuscript to the journal, the authors certify that:
- They are authorized by their co-authors to enter into these arrangements.
- The work described has not been formally published before, except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, thesis, or overlay journal.
- That it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere,
- That its publication has been approved by all the author(s) and by the responsible authorities "tacitly or explicitly" of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
- They secure the right to reproduce any material that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere.
- They agree to the following license and copyright agreement.
Copyright
Authors who publish with Studia Vincentiana agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 4.0)that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
