The Company of the Daughters of Charity was founded, to which Saint Vincent entrusted the expansion of the Charities.
St. Louise Organizes the Charities
Louise visited and organized the Charities in Paris and the surrounding villages.
St. Louise de Marillac, Visitor of the Confraternities of Charity
Vincent de Paul named Louise de Marillac Visitor of the Confraternities of Charity, saying “Go, therefore, Mademoiselle, go in the name of Our Lord…shelter in rain and cold, your soft bed in weariness, your strength in your toil, and, finally, that He may bring you back in perfect health and filled with good works.”
Congregation of the Mission
In 1625, St. Vincent and three priests pledged to, in his own words, “…to live together as a Congregation… and to devote ourselves to the salvation of the poor country folk.” The Congregation of the Mission is later approved in the Papal Bull Salvatoris Nostri. It is affirmed that the Congregation was founded for the evangelization of the poor and must ensure the founding of Confraternities of Charity so that the poor are served and that lay people are included in the evangelization.
Châtillon-les-Dombes
The first inspiration occurred in Châtillon-les-Dombes in a homily by Vincent de Paul, to which more than 50 women responded and provided services to a family in need. St. Vincent founded the first lay organization to work with the poor (all women) and called it the Confraternity of Charities. This was in August 1617 and on December 8 the official rule of the Confraternity was accepted by the Bishop of Lyons.
Beatification
On August 22, 1997, during the XIIth World Youth Day, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam was beatified — declared “Blessed” — by Pope John Paul II at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, where Frédéric was the primary founder of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society.
Candidate for Beatification
The first formal step for his beatification was taken in Paris on June 10, 1925. On January 12, 1954, Pope Pius XII signed the decree of the introduction of the cause.
Legacy; Rapid Spread of the Society
Frédéric has been revered as an exemplar of the lay apostle in family, social and intellectual life. The work he began with the Conferences of St. Vincent de Paul has continued to flourish. At his death, the membership already numbered about 15,000 in 18 countries. Today the Society of St. Vincent De Paul (SSVP) numbers over 750,000, serving the poor in 142 countries– a living monument to Frédéric Ozanam and his companions!
Death of Bl. Frédéric Ozanam
In the Spring of 1853, the Ozanams moved to a seaside cottage at Leghorn, Italy, on the Mediterranean, where Frédéric spent his last days peacefully. Though not fearing death, he expressed the wish to die on French soil, so his brothers came to assist him and his family to Marseilles where Frédéric died on September 8, 1853.
Failing health
During the academic year 1851-52, Ozanam barely managed to get through his teaching responsibilities as a complete breakdown of his health was in progress. The doctors ordered him to surrender his teaching duties at the Sorbonne and he again went with his family to Southern Europe for rest. It did not deter him, however, from continuing to promote the work of the Conferences.