September is a special month for the Vincentian Family, marked by various liturgical commemorations of saints and blessed who, by their lives, exemplified the Vincentian values of humility, simplicity and charity. This month is, therefore, a propitious occasion to celebrate and reflect on the legacy of love and service to others left by these saints.

On September 1, we celebrate Blessed Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos, a young Brazilian woman who lived with purity of heart and a deep love for God. Isabel Cristina was born in 1962 in Barbacena, Minas Gerais, and was martyred at the age of 20 while defending her chastity. Her life was marked by a deep faith and an ardent desire to follow Christ, dedicating herself to her studies and to the catechesis of children. She was an active member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) and excelled in the youth field. Her courage and sacrifice are testimony to her purity and total dedication to God.

On September 2, the Church celebrates Blessed Louis Joseph François, a French priest martyred during the French Revolution. He was a member of the Congregation of the Mission and was imprisoned for refusing to take the oath demanded by the revolutionary government, as it was against the Catholic faith. His unwavering faith and courage in the face of persecution are clear examples of his fidelity to God and the teachings of the Church, virtues that characterize the Vincentian spirit of fortitude and dedication to the service of Christ.

On September 9, we celebrate Blessed Anthony-Frederic Ozanam, the principal founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Born in 1813 in Milan (Italy), Ozanam was a layman who dedicated his life to charity and social justice, inspired by the teachings of St. Vincent de Paul. Together with six other friends, he founded the first Conference of Charity of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, with the aim of promoting Christian charity by helping the poor in a practical and personal way. The virtues of compassion, solidarity and service to others figured prominently in his life, making him a model of Vincentian action.

Also on September 9, the Church celebrates the memory of Blessed Maria Eurythimia Üffing, born in Germany in 1914. She belonged to the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. Known for her tireless dedication to the sick and needy, especially during World War II, her life was marked by a deep devotion to charity, a reflection of the Vincentian virtues of humility and service to the poor. Her beatification in 2001 by St. John Paul II is a recognition of her witness of faith and love of neighbor, an example of a true Vincentian spirit.

On September 11, we remember St. John Gabriel Perboyre, a priest of the Congregation of the Mission, martyred in China in 1840. St. John Gabriel is known for his courage and unshakable faith. He endured torture and persecution with great fortitude of spirit, never renouncing his faith. His example of missionary dedication and his willingness to suffer for Christ are an inspiration to all Vincentians.

On September 24, we remember Blessed Emilie Gamelin (1800-1851). She was a Canadian woman of extraordinary charity and dedication to the poor. After losing her husband and three children, Emilie channeled her grief into service to the needy, founding in 1843 the Sisters of Providence, a religious congregation dedicated to helping the most vulnerable. Through her work, Emilie transformed compassion into concrete action, helping orphans, the elderly, the sick and prisoners. In recognition of her life of heroic virtue, St. John Paul II beatified her on October 7, 2001.

On September 27, we commemorate the great St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity. Born in France in 1581, Vincent dedicated his life entirely to the service of the poor and the formation of priests, revolutionizing the social assistance of his time. His virtues of humility, simplicity and meekness made him an icon of Christian love, and his work lives on today in the Vincentian mission. Our model, St. Vincent de Paul, was proclaimed “patron of all the charitable works of the Catholic Church” by Pope Leo XIII in 1885, at the proposal of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of France.

At the end of the month, on September 30, we commemorate Blessed Frederick Albert, born in 1820 in Turin (Italy). He was a diocesan priest deeply committed to the mission of serving the poorest and most marginalized. Inspired by the Vincentian virtues, he founded the Institute of the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul to attend to the needs of the poor and orphans, offering them education, shelter and spiritual care. Beatified in 1984 by St. John Paul II, Frederick Albert is remembered as a zealous and charitable pastor, whose life was a testimony of love of neighbor and full dedication to Christian charity.

The month of September invites us to reflect on the Vincentian charism, which has as its reference point the constant search for God in the poor and the transformation of society through solidarity and service. The lives of the saints and blesseds we commemorate this month inspire us to live with a burning heart of love for Christ and those most in need, seeking to be true disciples of St. Vincent de Paul in today’s world. The essence of the Vincentian way of life is to be a living sign of Christ’s charity, serving the poor with joy, hope and humility, always with our eyes fixed on heaven.

Brother Renato Lima de Oliveira
SSVP Commissioner to the United Nations and President General from 2016 to 2023.