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The Vincentian Family

In the l7th century, God raised up Vincent DePaul and Louise de Marillac to serve the poor. They were mystics in action, who had fallen in love with God and who looked upon the world with eyes of compassion for the suffering. They had ears to hear the cries of the poor, the destitute, the downtrodden, the victims of violence and injustice and this drove them into action.

In 1617, Vincent DePaul founded the Ladies of Charity, lay women in the parishes, to help in the mission of serving the poor. In 1625, he founded the Congregation of the Mission, to preach the Gospel to the poor and to reform the clergy. In 1633, together with Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity were founded to serve the poor in the spirit of humility, simplicity and charity.

In 1809 Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton founded in America a community of Sisters based on the Rule of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul. From this root the Sisters of Charity have spread the spirit of the charism of St. Vincent and St. Louise to all parts of the United States and Canada.

In 1833, Frederick Ozanam founded the Society of St. Vincent DePaul to serve the poor. He advocated the concepts of Christian social justice, the rights and dignity of every individual and the need for equality of opportunity in education and employment. He worked with Sr. Rosalie Rendu, a Daughter of Charity, in the slums of Paris.

The legacy of Vincent DePaul and Louise de Marillac lives on in numerous institutes, both religious and lay, throughout the world. Many foundations have been influenced by the rule of Vincent which Louise helped develop. Some examples in the U.S. include:

• Association of the Miraculous Medal (USA)
• Colorado Vincentian Volunteers (1995, USA)
• Gateway Vincentian Volunteers (1999, USA)
• Congregation of the Mission (1625, France)
• International Vincentian Family
• Midwest Province, Saint Louis, USA
• Daughters of Charity (1633, France)
• Ladies of Charity (International Association of Charity)
• Sisters of Charity
• Society of Saint Vincent DePaul Council of the United States
• Center for Spirituality at Work
• Vincentian Marian Youth (Southeast Missouri)
• Vincentian Service Corps (1988, USA)

For more information about the Vincentian Family, read The Vincentian Family Tree by Sister Betty Ann McNeil, D.C., available through the bookstore of the Vincentian Studies Institute.