Dear Vincentian Family,

I decided to get out of the boat and walk on water.

I chose to write an “autobiography” of a man who never wrote an autobiography. 187 years after his death, I did this because I have such admiration for him: Blessed Antoine-Frederic Ozanam.

Over the years, I found that I know less about him than what I do know. In the process of writing this volume, I discovered much more about this 19th century Frenchman! I believe he ranks among the most remarkable individuals I have ever studied, a rare combination of intellectual genius and man of sanctity, an extremist in love.

By delving into his thoughts, feelings, and actions in the various sections of this biography I hope you will become as fascinated with Ozanam as I am and have been:

+ the closeness of the Ozanam family
+ Frederic’s spirituality
+ the founding of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
+ his insights on a variety of subjects
+ his fairly-tale marriage
+ the last months of his short life

Thank you for choosing “I, Frederic…”

Fr. Ronald Ramson, C.M.