As the AIC (International Association of Charities, also known as the Ladies of Charity) prepares to celebrate its 400th anniversary, a series of reflections has been prepared by Fr. Álvaro Mauricio Fernández, CM in collaboration with María Eugenia Magallanes and Laurence de la Brosse.

The first reflection is on the Origin of the Confraternities. The Confraternity of Charity was the first institutional expression of the Vincentian charism— lay leadership for social action. This came about when St. Vincent proposed that the women of the parish in Châtillon-les-Dombes join together for organized charity. This Monday is the anniversary of the first confraternity.

Read full reflection in English ♦ Español ♦ Français ♦ Italiano ♦ Português

To download all four in this series, with complete information and reflection questions, please visit the Ladies of Charity USA website.

For more resources about the AIC, please visit VinFormation.