I. The Reasons behind VDP institution of the congregation of the mission (1605) and the Daughters of the Charity (1633) Saint Vincent de Paul, (1581-1660), was a French Priest and founder of the Congregation of the Mission called the Vincentians or the Order of the Lazarists. At Fifteen years of age Vincent was sent as a boarder to the Franciscan College at Dax and was ordained to the priesthood in 1600. It is said Saint Vincent was seized by pirates while going from Marseille to Narbonne in 1606; sold into slavery in Tunisa and escaped and returned to France some months later. Like many of his contemporaneous, Vincent saw the priesthood as a means of advancement, and in 1613 he was presented with a golden opportunity when he was appointed to service with the Gondis, one of the most influential families in France. He spent some 20 years as a parish priest and chaplain to this aristocratic family. He was also chaplain general of the galleys of France and as such tried to aid the sea slaves. In 1617 he founded the first Confraternity of Charity, made up of wealthy women working among the sick and poor in Châtillon-les-Dombes, near Lyon. In 1622 he was appointed Superior of the Parisian Convents of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary by the French prelate St Francis of Sales.

Congregation of the Mission

Context- A community of the congregation was formally established at the College des Bons-Enfants in Paris in 1626, where Saint Vincent served as principle. He established the Congregation of the Mission of Priests and the Sisters of Charity. The Society of St Vincent de Paul, founded in 1833 by Frédéric Ozanam, continues his work to this day.

Purpose/Objectives of each company- make every effort to put on the spirit of Christ himself (Common Rules, 1, 3) in order to acquire a holiness appropriate to their vocation (Common Rules, XII, 13); work at evangelizing the poor, especially the more abandoned; help the clergy and laity in their formation and lead them to a fuller participation in the evangelizing the poor (Constitutions, art. 1)

Pinoneer members- Members of the congregation include: * Thaddeus Amat y Brusi (1810-1878), first bishop of Los Angeles * P. Bertholon (1689-1757), physician * E. Bore (d. 1878), orientalist * P. Collet (1693-1770), writer on theology and ethics * Armand David (1826-1900), Chinese missionary and traveller * Jean-Claude Faveyrial (1813–1893), French historian and author of the first book on the history of Albania * Pierre-Marie-Alphonse Favier (1837-1905), missionary to China, and Vicar Apostolic of North Chihli (1898-1905) * Cardinal Stéphanos II Ghattas (1920-2009), Patriarch emeritus of Alexandria for the Copts * J. de la Grive (1689-1757), geographer * Évariste Régis Huc (1813-1860), missionary and traveller * Teodorico Pedrini (1671-1746), Chinese missionary and musician * Stafford Poole (1936-), historian * Cardinal Franc Rode (1934-), Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life * Joseph Rosati (1789-1843), first bishop of St. Louis, Missouri * David M. O'Connell (1955-), Bishop of Trenton * Aba Shlimon (aka Pere Desire Solomon, Khwaja Shlimon) late 19th c. Urmia, Persia, an Assyrian scholar

Original Quarter/House- The alternate name Lazarist Fathers was given to the group when it established headquarters at the former priory of Lazare in Paris in 1632. Saint Vincent not only headed the order but also founded, with others several charitable organisations. Most notable of these was the Daughters of Charity which were formed under his direction in 1633. The foundling hospital of Paris owes its origin to this group in the relief of the poor during the latter half of the 19th century.

Daughters of the Charity

Context- In 1633, a French widow named Louise de Marillac and a French priest named Vincent de Paul founded the Daughters of Charity to serve the poor of France. Daughters of Charity are women who have given themselves to God in community for the service of poor people. One of the great "Vincentian" ways of finding God is to discover God in other people especially those in great need.

Purpose/Objectives of each company- Their spiritual life is built on a relationship with God that overflows into the service of those who are in need. They support each other by living in community, sharing a common call. They minister to the poor in many ways and they collaborate with others to provide support and opportunities for society's most vulnerable members.

Pioneer members- The congregation was founded by Saint Vincent de Paul, a French priest, and Saint Louise de Marillac, a widow.

Original Quarter/House- The need of organization in work for the poor suggested to Fr. de Paul the forming of a confraternity among the women of his parish in Châtillon-les-Dombes. It was so successful that it spread from the rural districts to Paris. Vincent de Paul remedied this by referring young women who inquired about serving persons in need to go to Paris and devote themselves to this ministry under the direction of the Ladies of Charity. These young girls formed the nucleus of the Daughters of Charity now spread over the world.

II. The Social institution that VDP hold established In 1617, SVDP started the foundation of his charities. Some took care of the homeless, others of epidemics, others fought against contagious diseases, and others were dedicated to different calamities. Whether he knew it or not, Vincent’s life was entering a new stage. Now that his vision of the future was transformed, he had to go forward. He followed divine Providence step by step, according to the Rule of Perfection of Benet of Canfield, which his friend and mentor, Andre Duval, praised so highly. He was devoted to always honoring Providence and “not treading on its heels.” Now that the intimate depths of his being were engaged in the service of the poor, the next step was to insure the order and continuity of his mission. He needed, therefore, to establish the institutions which would permit him to achieve his work and make the mission of Jesus available to others in the future.

III. What did VDP do in performing the catholic clergy in the France during his time?
What was the context? * In spite of opposition from his foes, Vincent remained steadfast in his purpose and continued the missions. He asked himself what God wanted him to do.
Who helped him in his project? * Reform depended on the ministry of reliable parish priests. Yet, a sizeable number of priests remained uneducated and mediocre. Vincent de Paul, Adrien Bourdoise, Jean-Jacques Olier and Saint Cyran believed that it was the priests who were responsible for the state of the Church.
The objectives of his classical reform * Events took a decisive turn, unforeseen by Vincent. It was Vincent’s way to befriend events, by which God led him by the hand. God was now associating him with the radical task of Catholic reform. He worked with Cardinal de La Rochefoucauld, who had already entrusted the case concerning visionaries to him. The future of the mission to the poor was also secured for him. From now on, in spite of his natural inclination to circumspection, Vincent took large strides forward.