Bishop Felipe Estévez has posted a tweet about St. Vincent de Paul, a Frenchman who has become known and loved for his charitable pursuits in his life, on the Solemnity of All Saints day, which was celebrated on Nov. 1.

Vincent de Paul lived from 1581-1660 and dedicated his life to caring for the poor and vulnerable; because of his efforts, he has become the patron saint of charitable societies, such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which is present in most Catholic communities.

“The last word St. Vincent De Paul said before dying was “d’avantage – always more.” A saint is someone in a perpetual state of giving with greater merciful love revealing the heart of Christ in ever new ways,” Bishop Estévez, Bishop of St. Augustine tweeted. 

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a light to those in need, as it is committed to providing support for the poor and at-risk. It does this through housing programs, food pantries, job placement, disaster relief services and more. 

According to Catholic Online, Nov. 1 is Solemnity of All Saints, which is the day that Catholics celebrate those holy men and women who are in heaven now. The first All Saints’ Day was celebrated by Pope Benedict IV on May 13 in 609 A.D. Pope Gregory III made the holiday officially on Nov. 1 in the mid 700s. 

Generally, All Saints’ Day is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church, meaning that the faithful are expected to attend Mass. This year, the obligation was withheld as the date fell on a Monday. All Saints’ Day follows Halloween which has its roots in religious practices. Catholics appreciate the celebration of Halloween as it is a reminder to honor those who have died before us, both those in purgatory and those in heaven.