La vraie vie de Saint Vincent de Paul

The opening chapters pull back the curtain on the tangled records that have surrounded Saint Vincent de Paul for centuries. Rather than retelling familiar legends, the author confronts the early misdating of his birth and ordination, showing how a single clerical error reshaped his entire biography. By tracing the chain of copied mistakes—from the first hagiographer to later editors—the narrative reveals how history can be shaped as much by paperwork as by deeds.

Drawing on fourteen volumes of Vincent’s own letters, interviews and courtroom testimonies unearthed in the twentieth century, the book offers a meticulously sourced portrait of the man behind the myth. It balances scholarly rigor with readable storytelling, inviting listeners to see Vincent as a complex figure whose compassion was matched by human frailty. The first act sets the stage for a deeper exploration of his charitable work, without spilling the later twists that define his lasting legacy.