Part of a Series on Vincentian Heritage Places

Nanterre

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Along with the private side of Ozanam’s spiritual life, he relished the feasts and holy days of the Christian year. He enjoyed these communal celebrations to the fullest.

For example, in 1833, Ozanam and his friends left Paris on the Feast of Corpus Christi to participate in the religious procession held at Nanterre. It was a grand spectacle, in which some thirty students processed. “The procession was large and full of elegant simplicity, all the houses close together, the paths strewn with flowers, and there was a faith, a piety difficult to describe, good elderly people who had not been able to follow the procession were waiting at the crossing. It was principally in front of their homes that the street-altars were set up. The ceremony lasted close to two hours… Afterward we attended the high Mass, where the crowd flowed to outside the doors of the Church.”

Source: Antoine Frédéric Ozanam by Raymond L. Sickinger, University of Notre Dame Press

Example of a pilgrimage in Nanterre, 19th century.

Nanterre – Railroad Crossing

All Vincentian Places in this Series

Red = Vincent de Paul, Blue = Frederic Ozanam

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