Part of a Series on Vincentian Heritage Places

Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs

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It was in the church of Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs, on Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 1623, that Louise was freed from her doubts and received the grace that illuminated her soul. This is called her Lumière Experience.

“Saint Louise was quite familiar with the church of Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs which she had attended when she was living on the rue Cour-au-Villain in the [nearby] parish of Saint-Sauveur. It was in this church that she was delivered from serious temptations against faith and, by a kind of enlightenment from on high, had a glimpse of what God would do with her later on.” (Source: Coste 01 Table of Contents, Index, and Notes, Letter 38.)

“On the feast of Pentecost during Holy Mass or while I was praying in the church, my mind was completely freed of all doubt. I was advised that I should remain with my husband and that the time would come when I would be in the position to make vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and that I would be in a small community where others would do the same…I felt that it was God who was teaching me these things and that, believing there is a God, I should not doubt the rest.”

She vowed not to remarry if her husband died before her. She also believed that she had received the insight that she would be guided to a new spiritual director whose face she was shown. When she happened to meet Vincent de Paul, she recognized him as the priest from her vision. (Source: Wikipedia)

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All Vincentian Places in this Series

Red = Vincent de Paul, Blue = Frederic Ozanam, Teal = Elizabeth Seton, Yellow = Louise de Marillac

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