“Monsieur Vincent” is a great film and it can be viewed in its entirety in a single session. For those who know Vincent de Paul and want to discover the original approach of the film, it is recommended to watch it in its entirety.

For those not familiar with the life of St. Vincent, imay be more useful to view the film in thematic parts. From a catechetical perspective, it might be opportune to select some passages of the film according to the didactic intentions. We suggest here some core parts of the film and their possible catechetical uses.

1. Being a Christian in an Unjust World

• Vincent de Paul arrives in Chátillon to take charge of the parish. What social reality does he find? What ecclesial reality does he find?
• Vincent de Paul’s dialogues offer clues with regard to the discernment of the causes of injustice. What did you notice?
• Chátillon’s reality soon changes because of Vincent de Paul’s action. In what aspects is the transformation manifested?
• In light of these scenes from the life of Vincent de Paul, what do you think it means to be a Christian in an unjust world? What do you think are the signs of a true follower of Jesus?

2. Contract of the Foundation of the Congregation of the Mission

• Let us discuss the role played by Madame de Gondi in the founding of the Congregation of the Mission.
• How and why was the Congregation founded?
• How does St. Vincent de Paul assume his responsibility?
• How can the present day members assume their responsibility?

3. Vincent de Paul at the service of the poorest

• How did Vincent de Paul receive the news of his appointment as chaplain of the galleys of France? What were his concerns?
• What meaning does compassion (to suffer with) acquire when contemplating the scenes of the galleys and Vincent’s response to this situation?
• For the poor, with the poor, like the poor… comment on these expressions of evangelical commitment.

4. The discovery of the poor

• Vincent de Paul discovered, through various events, that the Lord wanted him to serve Him in the poor. How do these scenes present this discovery?
• Some scholars speak of the conversion process of Vincent de Paul. In the scenes we have seen, what is happening inside Vincent de Paul?
• How can we approach the world of the poor today?

5. Service to the poor

• Is service to the poor, as Vincent de Paul understood it, only material assistance?
• Is the politicians’ solution (confining the poor) evangelical?
• How does our way of understanding and serving the poor compare with St. Vincent’s?

6. The first Daughter of Charity

• Describe the most salient features of the first Daughter of Charity, as presented in the film.
• What role does Marguerite play in the origin of the Company of the Daughters of Charity?
• What does all of this say about the vocation of the Daughter of Charity today.

7. Louise de Marillac

• Let us analyze the characteristics of the identity of the Daughters of Charity, based on the expressions of St. Vincent at the beginning of the scene.
• Let’s talk about the role played by Louise de Marillac in the foundation and direction of the Daughters of Charity. Does this scene reflect well her real participation?
• What does all of this say about the situation of the hospitals and the role played in them by the Daughters of Charity.

8. The “common sense” response to poverty

• So-called “common sense” suggests expressions similar to those used by the Chancellor in this scene … comment on them.
• What is the Christian response to these arguments, as lived by Vincent de Paul?

9. The Vincentian response to all forms of poverty

• Let us review the responses that Vincent de Paul gave to the various forms of poverty of his time.
• The role of women in Vincentian ministry.
• The work with abandoned children encountered many difficulties, why?
• How are Christians called to respond to situations of poverty?

10. Vincent de Paul’s place in French politics

• From the dialogues of this scene, comment on the most important interventions of Vincent de Paul in French politics.
• What is the role of the Christian in public life?

11. The secret of Charity

• What does Vincent say about charity.
• Compare Vincent’s statements with 1 Corinthians 13 … how can all of this be apllied to our life today?

Technical data

Director: Maurice Cloche
Cast: Pierre Fresnay, Jean Carmet, Lise Delamare, Yvonne Gaudeau, Gabrielle Dorziat
Title in VO: Monsieur Vincent
Country: France
Year: 1947
Length: 110 min.
Rating: All audiences
Genre: Drama
Screenplay: Jean Anouilh, Maurice Cloche, Jean Bernard-Luc
Cinematography: Claude Renoir
Music: Jean-Jacques Grünenwald

Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film 1948 (The Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film was first awarded for films released in 1947. At first, and until 1949, it was a Special Award. Between 1950 and 1955 – with the exception of 1952 when it was not awarded – it was an Honorary Award. Both the special and honorary awards were designated to a specific film without competing with other candidates. From 1956 onwards it became an award like the others, following the competition system of the rest of the categories).

Corpus Juan Delgado, C.M.