ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 183, 1 May 1933, Page 7

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Famous Charitable Society CENTENARY THIS MONTH It is a hundred years ago this month since the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the world-wide Roman Catholic institution for the relief of tihe sick and distressed was inaugurated. In May, 1833, M. Frederic Ozanam and several of his companions in Paris established the first conference of the society, and since then its activities have spread throughout tihe world. The Wellington Particular Council of this famous society, of which Mr. Paul Hoskins is secretary, has outlined a programme to mark the occasion. These proceedings commenced yesterday with a Novena of Thanksgiving and special prayers to usher in the centenary week. A general Communion for all members will be -conducted on Sunday next, and a meeting will be held at St. Francis Hall at 2.30 p.m. There will also be a great rally in the Town Hall on Monday, May 8, when a special musical programme will be presented, and addresses will be delivered by his Grace • the Archbishop and the Rev. J. S. Spillane, S.M. The name St. Vincent de Paul stands for all phases of charity in the Roman Catholic world. Vincent de Paul was born near Dax in the French Lanes, in 1576, and died in 1660. After many adventures he settled in- Paris, where Margaret de Valois employed him as her almoner. It was a Cure of Chantillon that he established his first Confrerie de Caharlitie for the relief of the sick and the poor. He next turned his attention to the horrible practice of condemning prisoners to the galleys, even for light offences, and succeeded in bringing about some amelioration \ of a custom which had meant untold suffering and death to many convicts. In 1619 Francois de Sales gave him direction of the first convent of the Visitation. At Chartres. Vincent or ganised the Congregation of the Mis sions. aud in 1634 he created the Fillo de Charite, the first association of un cloistered women living by rule, and devoted to the care of the sick and poor. He also established the first foundling hospital in Paris»(in 1640). St. Francis was beatified in 1729. and canonised as a saint in 1737.