The Formative Years of a Saint: Vincent de Paul: 1595–1617

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This investigation of Vincent de Paul’s formative years reveals his humanity and shows his sanctity was achieved slowly, not as the result of dramatic events as tradition holds. The first part of this work covers the period between his schooling in Dax and his 1605 disappearance. The second explores the Tunisian captivity. The third consists of the time between his arrival in Paris and the mission at Folleville. The main assertions follow. Vincent probably was ordained earlier than the prescribed age of twenty-four. Such irregular ordinations were common at the time. Contrary to tradition, he did contest the possession of the parish of Tilh. The Tunisian captivity probably never occurred. The letters Vincent wrote describing it are genuine, but have many inconsistencies. Moreover, he never spoke about this time. He was distressed when the letters were rediscovered and attempted to get them back and have them destroyed. The embellishments, inaccuracies, and controversy surrounding this tradition are explained in detail. Finally, modern scholarship holds that Vincent had a gradual conversion. The stories about the false accusation of theft and the temptation against faith are untrue. The rebuttal to the first is given at length, while the one for the second is a summary.

“The Formative Years of a Saint: Vincent de Paul: 1595-1617” is an article published in the Vincentian Heritage Journal, Volume 13, Issue 2, Article 1 (1992) available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vhj/vol13/iss2/1

 

Newsnote: Daughter of Charity Heroine of the French Resistance: Sr. Helene Studler

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The Vincentiana Collection at the Special Collections Department at DePaul University recently acquired the memorial card for Sr. Helene Studler, a Daughter of Charity decorated for her work in the French Resistance during World War II.

Here is a link to a 1989 Vincentian Heritage Article:
http://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1072&…

There is also a very informative Wikipedia article on Sister Helene.

Frédéric Ozanam’s Tactical Wisdom For Today’s Consumer Society

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From Thomas McKenna’s perspective, consumerism reduces everything, including religious tradition and altruism, to commodities that are removed from their original contexts and lacking in meaning. Elements of consumerism are identified; their combined effect leads individuals to only value short-term engagements with what appeals to them, makes them feel noble, or makes a statement about their identity. McKenna examines how Frederic Ozanam’s life and work can be used to counteract this. According to Ozanam, Christians should mediate between the rich and the poor to alleviate class conflict and ensure justice for poor persons. His mandate for direct service means that neither suffering nor altruism can be reduced to commodities, and that personal contact is the basis for practical solutions to social problems. It was Ozanam’s insight that service should be done in community and be directly tied to religion, or what would today be termed theological reflection. This strengthens those who serve, encourages further action, and, in McKenna’s view, preserves religion’s imperative force, meaning, and context.

“Frederic Ozanam’s Tactical Wisdom For Today’s Consumer Society” is an article published in 2010 in the Vincentian Heritage Journal, Volume 30, Issue 1, Article 1 available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vhj/vol30/iss1/1

Vincentian Character of DePaul

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“Vincentian Character of DePaul” is a chapter in the book The Playful Hand of God: Memoirs of John T. Richardson, C.M. (pp. 71-73) published by DePaul University, Chicago, IL, in 2011.  Fr. Richardson served as President of DePaul University, Chicago, IL, from 1981-1993.  In his own words, these memoirs are given “as a testament to the women and men whose lives helped build the University” and to “the ideas that shaped so much of its history.”  Though much has been written about the University by others, Fr. Richardson chose to focus on the school’s “mission which brings its vision into reality, the ideals which guide its decisions, and the persons struggling collegially to shape the policies and programs that make these ideals practical.”  In this chapter of his memoirs, Fr. Richardson reflects on his efforts to develop a university that ranks among the best in the nation while serving persons from neglected segments of our society who most need access to an excellent education.

History of the Daughters of Charity, 17th-20th c.

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Daughters of Charity’s school, Japan, Takaoka (before 1964). © Archives des Filles de la Charité, Paris.

I’m delighted to announce the publication of an edited volume of essays about the Daugthers of Charity.

More than twenty scholars have studied the history of the Sisters of St Vincent de Paul from 17th to 20th c. thanks to their archives recently opened, specially those kept at the mother house in Paris, crossed with local, private as well as public, sources.

Specialists of different fields could be interested : women and gender studies, religious history, transnational and colonial studies, nursing, history of education, spirituality, etc.

A nice iconography is also presented.

 

Matthieu Brejon de Lavergnée (ed.), Des Filles de la Charité aux Soeurs de Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. Quatre siècles de cornettes (XVIIe-XXe siècle), Paris, Honoré Champion, 2016.

Table of contents & more information:

http://www.honorechampion.com/fr/champion/10160-book-08533034-97827…

Catholic Character of DePaul

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The “Catholic Character of DePaul” is a chapter in the book The Playful Hand of God: Memoir of John T. Richardson, C.M. (pp. 74-79) published in 2011 by DePaul University, Chicago, IL.  Fr. Richardson served as President of DePaul University from 1981-1993.  In this chapter the author recounts the great history of the Catholic Church’s involvement in higher education both in Europe and in the United States over the past several hundred years.  He muses on how DePaul University had implemented some of the liberating spirit of Vatican Council II long before the beginning of that Council in 1962 and how later changes in the Church’s Canon Law in 1983 seemed an attempt to rein in some of the freedoms envisioned in Vatican II documents.  He noted Chicago’s Joseph Cardinal Bernardine’s opposition to those very restrictions and the University’s total agreement with the Cardinal. In addition, he reflects on the “space race” situation in the Cold War years when federal monies became available for research in science, technology and space exploration.  Were such monies to be available to colleges and universities with religious or church affiliations; or would grants to such institutions be considered unconstitutional?  This question was especially important to DePaul as the Music School of the University had been given special recognition by the Vatican years earlier affiliating it with the Pontifical Institute in the Vatican.  In 1966, the Board of Trustees voted to terminate that special arrangement with the Vatican and the issue became moot.

Bottom line is this (in his own words): “The Catholic identity of DePaul has not restricted learning to a sectarian point of view….the University respects the basic religious freedom of belief and practice enjoyed by its students, faculty and staff.  This explains why our undergraduate curriculum includes studies in many religions as well as the study of Catholic theology.  Catholics form the largest single religious group of student, but slightly more than half of the student body consists of other religious or no-religion groups.”

Newsnote: Exciting Purchase: “Ex Libris Ludovici de Marillac”

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The Vincentiana Collection at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections today acquired a 1637 edition of the Roman Pontifical (Bishop’s Sacramentary) issued under the authority of Pope Urban VIII and the Archbishop of Paris. The volume belonged to Saint Louise de Marillac and is autographed: “ex libris Ludovici de Marillac.” This is an important and exciting purchase to add to DePaul University’s growing Vincentian Special Collections.

The Heart of Jesus In the Spirituality of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac

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Former superior general Robert Maloney examines what the heart of Jesus meant to Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac. Vincent prayed that the Congregation would have the heart of Jesus, or the zeal, to bring God’s love to the poor. The missionaries were also to exercise gentleness and humility, the qualities Jesus attributed to his heart in Matthew 11:29. For Louise, this heart meant “charity that was both affective and effective.” She created many paintings of Jesus’s heart, some of which are described in the article with accompanying images. The historical development of devotion to the heart of Jesus, in which Francis de Sales played a role, is explained. Maloney explores five meanings Jesus’s heart has for us. It “heightens our awareness of the limitless love of God.” It calls us to be gentle and humble, makes us aware of our limitations, and helps us find wisdom and practice discernment. Finally, it encourages us to imitate Jesus’s love, which is “expansive” and “affective and effective.”

“The Heart of Jesus in the Spirituality of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac” is an article published in the Vincentian Heritage Journal, Volume 32, Issue 1, Article 8 available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vhj/vol32/iss1/8

 

Give Me the Simple Life

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“Give Me the Simple Life” is a chapter in the book Saint Vincent de Paul: His Mind and His Manner (pp. 84-86) by Jack Melito, C.M., published in 2010 by the Vincentian Studies Institute at DePaul University in Chicago, IL.  Here Fr. Melito illustrates how Vincent de Paul urges us to live simply.  What does this mean?  How is it done? For Vincent the answers did not involve quantitative measures but qualitative ones which point to living as Jesus lived.  Even the great poet, Henry David Thoreau, though not ‘religious,’ stressed the importance of living simply.  Both the religious guide and the humanistic guru, then, counsel living simply and realizing, ultimately, its liberating openness to the inherent beauty of life itself.  Simple, deliberate living is a personal style.  There is no one-size-fits-all.  For Vincent, it was “the livery of Christ conceived in the Spirit of the poor.”

Newsnote: “Rare 19th century embroidery portrait of Vincent de Paul”

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The Vincentiana Collections at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections has recently purchased an early 19th century embroidered portrait of Vincent de Paul. The face of the saint is drawn while the rest of the details of his portrait are done with silk embroidery. This piece will be part of the upcoming (January 2017) exhibition in DePaul’s Art Museum entitled: “The Many Faces of Vincent de Paul: Expressions of French Romanticism.”