The Society of St. Vincent de Paul today is present in 141 countries with 145 Superior, National and Assimilated Councils. It has 50,000 Conferences and over 700,000 members. It distributes over 550 million euros in aid every year around the world. How did this come to be?
The Conference of Charity was founded in Paris, the capital city of France, on April 23, 1833, in an atmosphere of political instability and great social misery, where the laity’s role in the Church had been strengthened as a result of the religious persecution during the Revolution, and as the importance of ‘works’ increased to respond to those who criticised the ‘uselessness’ of religion.
During a stormy student debate at the « History Conferences », Le Taillandier expressed his weariness at these discussions, and suggested that Christian students should meet for practical charity only. This idea was taken up by Ozanam, and agreed by their friends, in response to a frontal attack: ‘’Once upon a time, Christianity performed miracles, but nowadays Christianity is dead. You who boast of being Catholics, what do you do? Where are the works that would demonstrate your faith, that could make us respect and admire you?’’
Read the full history at http://www.ozanet.org/datospdf/doc_0328_en.pdf?edicion=389
Tags: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
