St. Vincent de Paul History

An international association of Catholic lay persons engaging systematically in personal service of the poor. The Society was founded in May, 1833, when eight young men, students at the Sorbonne, assembled in the office of the “Tribune Catholique” to formulate plans for the organization of a society whose objective would be to minister to the needs of the Parisian poor. The master-mind who conceived the project, which was destined to make an indelible impression upon the history of modern charity work, was Frederic Ozanam, a brilliant young Frenchman, lawyer, author and professor at the Sorbonne.

With Ozanam’s name must be linked that of Mr. Joseph Bailly, editor of the “Tribune Catholique”. Mr. Bailly became the first president of the society, and provided wise and fatherly counsel to properly direct the activities of his more youthful associates. The society’s establishment was due partly to the desire of the founders to furnish a practical refutation of the reproaches directed against Christianity by the followers of Saint-Simon, Fourier, and other popular teachers of the day. “Show us your works!” taunted the St. Simonians. “We admit the past grandeur of Christianity, but the tree is now dead and bears no fruit.” To this taunt Ozanam and his companions retorted by forming themselves into a Conference of Charity. Later they adopted the name “The Society of St. Vincent de Paul”, in honor of St. Vincent de Paul, a priest of the early 1600′s, who had devoted his life to founding charitable organizations to meet the needs of the poor and less fortunate.

While historians are not certain about some details, there is no doubt that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was established in St. Louis, Missouri at the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, popularly called “The Old Cathedral,” in 1845.

Rule of the Society

Father John Timon, CM, an American Vincentian priest from Pennsylvania, and later Bishop of Buffalo, New York, was the one who brought copies of the Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul back from Dublin, Ireland, to St. Louis.  Timon talked to various people about the Society and its wonderful work with the poor.

Bishop Peter Richard Kenrick, successor of the first Bishop of St. Louis, Joseph Rosati, CM, asked Father Ambrose Heim to establish the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and be its Spiritual Advisor.  Father Heim was known by all for his extraordinary zeal and ministry with the poor.  He became known as “The Priest of the Poor.”

The first meeting of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States was held on November 20, 1845, only twelve years after its foundation in Paris.  Nineteen of the most prominent Catholic layment of St. Louis attended.  Dr. Moses Linton was elected President, Bryan Mullanphy, Vice President, Dennis Galvin, Second Vice President, James Maguire Jr., Secretary, Patrick Ryder, Treasurer, and Fr. Ambrose Heim, Spiritual Advisor.  The Conference was aggregated (formally recognized) by the Society’s International Council in Paris on February 2, 1846.

Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam

Fredric Ozanam

Great grand-nephew of Jacques Ozanam. Born at Milan, 23 April, 1813; died at Marseilles, 8 September, 1853. His father, settled at first in Lyons as a merchant, after reverses of fortune decided to go to Milan. Later he returned to Lyons and became a physician. At eighteen Frédéric, in defense of the Faith, wrote “Réflexions sur la doctrine de Saint-Simon.” Later he studied law in Paris, and lived for eighteen months with the illustrious physician Ampère. He formed a close friendship with the latter’s son, Jean-Jacques Ampère, well known later for his works on literature and history. Meanwhile he became doubtful. He said,

“God gave me the grace to be born in the Faith. Later the confusion of an unbelieving world surrounded me. I knew all the horror of the doubts that torment the soul. It was then that the instructions of a priest and philosopher (Abbé Noirot) saved me. I believed thenceforth with an assured faith, and touched by so rare a goodness. I promised God to devote my life to the services of the truth which had given me peace.”

Rarely was a promise more faithfully fulfilled.

St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul

Born at Pouy, Gascony, France, in 1580, though some authorities have said 1576; died at Paris, 27 September, 1660. Born of a peasant family, he made his humanities studies at Dax with the Cordeliers, and his theological studies, interrupted by a short stay at Saragossa, were made at Toulouse where he graduated in theology. Ordained in 1600 he remained at Toulouse or in its vicinity acting as tutor while continuing his own studies.

Brought to Marseilles for an inheritance, he was returning by sea in 1605 when Turkish pirates captured him and took him to Tunis. He was sold as a slave, but escaped in 1607 with his master, a renegade whom he converted.

On returning to France he went to Avignon to the papal vice-legate, whom he followed to Rome to continue his studies. He was sent back to France in 1609, on a secret mission to Henry IV; he became almoner to Queen Marguerite of Valois, and was provided with the little Abbey of Saint-Léonard-de-Chaume. At the request of M. de Berulle, founder of the Oratory, he took charge of the parish of Clichy near Paris, but several months later (1612) he entered the services of the Gondi, an illustrious French family, to educate the children of Philippe-Emmanuel de Gondi. He became the spiritual director of Mme de Gondi.

Check here for the history of the local Billings District Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul