Our spirituality NT

Blessed Frederic Ozanam is very well known for his insight and wisdom. He would often share those valuable thoughts through personal letters to his family and friends. The best collection of these letters in English is found in “A Life in Letters,” edited by Fr. Joseph Dirvan. This collection was commissioned and published by the Society of St Vincent de Paul National Council of the United States in 1986.  Although this collection does not contain letters from the last ten years of Ozanam’s life it is still the best collection available in English. In recent years the complete, scholarly collections of his letters has been published but are only available in French and Spanish. Hopefully someday an English edition can be arranged so that we may further appreciate the work and thought of the principal founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. 

A Daughter of Charity on fire with love for the poor.

Rosalie Rendu was a Daughter of Charity who was a leading worker and organizer of care for the poor of 19th-century Paris' teeming slums, suffering from the rapid migration of people to the cities during the course of the Industrial Revolution. As well as assisting the poor in the streets and in their homes, Sister Rosalie showed great courage and leadership during the bloody uprisings that took place in France in 1830 and 1848. During the battles, Sister Rosalie would climb up on the barricades – risking her life – to help wounded soldiers, regardless of which side they were fighting on.

She was beatified by the Catholic Church for the holiness of her life.

The Society was named after Saint Vincent de Paul and follows his teachings and compassion for people in need. Saint Vincent de Paul is the international patron of the Society.

Vincent urged his followers to bring God’s justice and love to people who were unable to live a full human life:
“Deal with the most urgent needs. Organise charity so that it is more efficient…teach reading and writing, educate with the aim of giving each the means of self-support. Intervene with authorities to obtain reforms in structure… there is no charity without justice.”

Love and Politics was published in 2007. The Author John Honner explores Frederick Ozanam’s later life and in particular his involvement in the revolutionary politics of 1850.