St Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850)

Saint Vincent Pallotti was a 19th-century Italian priest who established the Union of Catholic Apostolate, which coordinates the apostolic work of the Pallotine priests and brothers, orders of religious women, and members of the lay faithful. “The universal apostolate, which is common to all classes of people, consists in doing all that one must and can do for the greater glory of God and for one’s own salvation and that of one’s neighbor” is how he described his vision.
 
Born in Rome, Vincent was ordained a priest in 1818 and worked with the poor of Rome, establishing trade schools to help them improve their material condition. He spent long hours hearing Confessions. “Jesus Christ assures us: the more we hunger and thirst for holiness, the more we shall be filled,” he told his people.
 
He was devoted to Mary, particularly as “Queen of Apostles.” In his day, there was a custom in which the laity would kiss the hand of a priest. In his humility, however, Vincent would hold an image of the Blessed Mother so that when people bent to kiss his hand, he would offer them her image to kiss instead.
 
His incorrupt body is in the Church of San Salvatore in Onda in Rome.

— Jim Graves