louise de marillac

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

 

Louise de Marillac Lecture: Energized by the Fire of Charity

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Sr. Peggy O’Neill, is a Sister of Charity and long-time peace activist, who has worked in El Salvador for the past 30 years. Her life is dedicated to the causes of peace, justice and service to others. Known for her energy, determination, sense of humor and unflagging commitment to the community, she currently serves as the founder of El Centro Arte Para la Paz. In this lecture she talks more about her healing work, how it connects to Louise de Marillac, and the roles of Vincentian leaders in our world.

VHRN Newsnote: Vincentiana Purchase of the week 19th century stereoview of the Church of Saint Laurent Paris

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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.

Newsnote: Vincentiana Purchase of the week: Beatification of Louise de Marillac and the Martyrs of Arras

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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.

The Gifts of Saint Louise de Marillac: The Future of the Legacy

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Louise de Marillac was a woman of many gifts. She learned to wait patiently to discover God’s will and then she did it. She had tremendous organizational abilities. She related well to a wide variety of people and imparted that ability to others. Louise helped others cultivate their capacities for service by “collaborating humbly” with them. An independent thinker, she had talent for seeing long-term consequences. Examples from Louise’s life illustrate her gifts. Some of the main aspects of her spirituality, drawn from her testament, are also described.

“The Gifts of Saint Louise de Marillac: The Future of the Legacy” is an article published in the Vincentian Heritage Journal, Volume 12, Issue 2, Article 10 (1991) available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/vhj/vol12/iss2/10

 

Louise de Marillac : A Wife, a Mother, A Foundress

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In this reading, Sr. Carol Schumer, D.C., unfolds the life and legacy of Saint Louise de Marillac.  Hear a history of Louise’s life, her education, her spiritual development, her trials and doubts, her spiritual friendship with Vincent de Paul and her ministry with the poor and eventual foundation with Vincent of the Daughters of Charity.

“Louise de Marillac: A Wife, A Mother, A Foundress” was developed by Srs. Frances Vista, D.C., and Carol Schumer, D.C. as part of a Vincentian Integration Experience in 2010.  The text was published in FAMVIN and is available at: https://vinformation.org/en/vincentian-formation-resources/presentations-media-games/mosaic-life-of-st-louise/

 

Newsnote: Vincentiana Purchase of the week “L’Envol des Blanches Cornettes.”

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The Vincentiana collection at Archives and Special Collections of DePaul University’s Richardson Library this week purchased a rare copy of a charming 1929 “pièce en trois actes, pour Jeunes Filles (avec chœurs, paroles et musique) entitled “L’Envol des Blanches Cornettes ou La Bienheureuse Louise de Marillac.” It was written by Amédée Huc, C.M. The author dedicated this piece “aux Filles de la Charité qui, animées de l’esprit de St-Vincent-de-Paul et de leur Bienheureuse Mère font rayonner en France et dans le monde entier: LA CHARITÉ DU CHRIST.” The work was published in Lyon, “en souvenir du Centenaire de l’Apparition de la ‘Médaille Miraculeuse” 1830-1930.”

Newsnote: Could this be a portrait of Louise de Marillac?

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The above painting is in the collection of the Museum Calvet in Avignon France. It is described as a “Portrait d’une Religieuse.” It is attributed to the “Ecole Francaise XVIIe, Inv. 278). The upper right-hand corner has the notation of 1644 and the signature of Lenain. The Le Nain brothers: Antoine (c. 1599-1648), Louis (c. 1593-1648), and Mathieu (1607-1677) worked in Paris in the middle of the 17th century. Could this be a previously unknown portrait of Louise de Marillac? In 1644 Louise would have been 53 years old and often in ill-health (fairly old for a 17th century woman). The woman in the portrait is wearing widow’s garb which bears a striking similarity to that worn by Louise. The oldest portrait of Louise is found in her 1676 biography of Nicolas Gobillon. This portrait bears some resemblance to this portrait of a younger Louise. More research is of course needed, but the possibility is intriguing…….