This Vincentian Studies Institute research library at the John T. Richardson Library of DePaul University has acquired a rare copy (1826) of Alexander Dallas’ proposal for the establishment in England of a Protestant version of the Soeurs de la Charite of France. Dallas (1791-1869) was an Anglican clergyman interested in the conversion of Catholic in Ireland among other causes. His father had been a friend of Lord Byron.
“Le Berceau de Saint Vincent de Paul. Nouveaux Documents sur la Famille et sur la Maison Natale de Saint Vincent. 24 Avril 1906. 330e anniversaire de la naissance de Saint Vincent de Paul.” This volume contains much interesting information on these topics including the above illustration which shows the historic re-alignment and re-creation of St. Vincent’s birthplace for the 1864 creation of the modern Berceau.
The Vincentiana Collection at Special Collections and Archives at DePaul University has recently purchased a beautiful mid-19th century clock featuring Saint Vincent de Paul. The quality of the clock indicates that this was a luxury item. The iconography features Vincent rescuing an abandoned infant on the streets of Paris. The clock is in need of some restoration.
The Vincentiana Collection at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collections recently purchased the c. turn of the 20th century photographic pastiche of images from the life of Saint Vincent branded, if you will, with the image of Our Lady of Buglose and the Berceau. The image while primitively done packs a lot of narrative into a small space. Usually these types of cards were amateur productions done when cameras became common enough (and cheap enough) to be taken up as a hobby.
This rare early stereoview shows the Church of Saint Laurent in Paris before the 1864 renovations caused by the construction of the Boulevard Magenta. During these renovations the Baroque facade of the church as known by Saint Vincent and Saint Louise was replaced with the present neo-gothic facade. The baroque facade itself had been added to the original 15th century gothic church. During the final years of Vincent and Louise’s lives the church bell-tower was added. The church was the parish church for the area around Saint-Lazare and was the location of Louise’s burial from 1660 to 1755.
The Vincentiana Collection at Archives and Special Collections of DePaul University recently purchased a turn of the 20th century commemorative book on the Berceau of Saint Vincent de Paul. The work illustrates the shrine, the orphanage, hospice, and ecole apostolique all works of the confreres and sisters that surrounded the shrine. Of particular interest is a rare view of the previous shrine.
The Vincentiana Collection at the Archives and Special Collections Department of DePaul University’s John Richardson Library has recently purchased what we believe to be the only known extant medal of the original shrine of Vincent de Paul located before the French Revolution at old Saint-Lazare on the rue Saint-Denis. Even though the medal is in degraded condition from being buried in soil, the reverse clearly shows the pre-revolutionary chasse that housed the saint’s remains after his beatification in 1729. After the revolution, the Lazaristes at new Saint-Lazare on the rue de Sevres reproduced this medal but with the image of the new Oudiot chasse that was the center-piece of the new chapel which received Vincent’s remains in April of 1830.
It has been recently announced that the feast of Louise de Marillac has been moved to May 9th (the anniversary of her beatification in 1920). We have been able to find a number of commemorative postcards from her beatification celebrations. Today’s postcard is from the Church of Notre Dame du Rosaire in Tunis, Algeria. Algeria was a french colony from 1830 to 1962, and the French colonists established a colonial version of French Catholicism including, dioceses, convents, monasteries, schools, and parishes. Most of these disappeared with the end of the colonial period. The Lazaristes and Filles de la Charites were part of this implanted religious colonialism. This postcard reminds us of this chapter in French imperial history and French religious imperial history as well.
Published on February 4, 1946 by the “French Press and Information Service, New York.”
Text to accompany the photo:
“Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Religious Foundation
Founded in the 17th century by the French Priest, Vincent de Paul, the religious order which bears his name is a congregation of sisters of charity, easily recognizable by their white coifs, who are seen at work wherever distress strikes. The Mother Superior of the Sisters of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul at Stains who was awarded the Medaille de la Resistance for having hidden an American para-trooper, ten young men who were escaping deportation to Germany, as as many Jews. The heroic sister of charity also saved thirty FFI who were being pursued by the Germans during the last battles of the liberation of France.”
The French Press and Information Service in New York seems to have been the American information office for the French government in exile during World War II. The identity of the sister in the photograph (shown wearing her medal) remains to be determined.
This photo was recently added to the Vincentiana collection at DePaul University’s Archives and Special Collection Department.
This newly-acquired mid-to-late 19th century French card was among those designed to be used as memorial cards for deceased Daughters of Charity. The card depicts a Daughter being guided to heaven by Saint Vincent de Paul to be received by the Savior. The Vincentiana collection at the Archives and Special Collections Department of DePaul University’s Richardson Library now has a number of these cards in its collection.