Outstanding Vincentians

The Count of Aljezur was an outstanding Vincentian layman who devoted his life to the service of Christian charity and the expansion of the Vincentian charism. A man of deep faith and commitment, his legacy lives on as an example of dedication to others and fidelity to the Vincentian mission.

Sister Barbe Angiboust, a seventeenth-century French peasant woman, devoted her life as a Daughter of Charity to serving the poor, the sick, and the marginalized with steadiness, humility, and self-giving. Her work in hospitals, schools, and prisons made her one of the pillars of the Company.

Henrietta Gesseaume, an intelligent and impulsive peasant, was one of the most active and devoted Daughters of Charity, serving the poor with generosity despite her temperament. Her life was shaped by a profound vocation, culminating in her heroic offering to assist the wounded soldiers at Calais.

Marie Joly, a former servant in Paris, discovered her vocation as one of the first Daughters of Charity, devoting her life to the poor, especially during the war in Sedan. Although she went through a crisis that led her to temporarily leave the Company, she was readmitted and served faithfully until her death in 1675.

Marguerite Naseau, a 17th century French peasant girl, learned to read on her own in order to selflessly teach poor girls, convinced that education could change their lives. Her generosity and spirit of service inspired her to voluntarily offer herself to Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac to assist the sick poor, thus becoming the first Daughter of Charity.

Felix de Andreis (1778–1820), an Italian priest of the Congregation of the Mission, was a brilliant scholar, mystical soul, and tireless missionary who led the foundation of the Congregation of the Mission in the United States. His short life blended intellectual excellence, spiritual asceticism, and bold missionary vision, leaving a mark on the American Catholic Church that endures to this day.

Marie-Madeleine de Vignerot, Duchess of Aiguillon (1604–1675), was a French aristocrat renowned for her deep piety, charitable works, and close collaboration with St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. Her life exemplifies the integration of noble status with humble service, significantly influencing the Vincentian mission and the broader Catholic charitable movement of 17th-century France.

The four Doran sisters—Sisters Baptista (Mary Jane), Josephine (Margaret), Genevieve, O.S.B., and laywoman Ellen—each played a unique role in the story of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, with Mother Josephine emerging as a transformative leader. Fulfilling the vision of her predecessors, she completed St. Joseph’s Chapel, founded Pittsburgh Hospital, and honored her sisters’ legacies through art, education, and steadfast devotion.

Salvatore Micalizzi, a Vincentian priest from Naples, dedicated his life to preaching, confession, and the spiritual renewal of clergy and laity alike. Known for his humility, fervor, and tireless service, he exemplified the Vincentian spirit and was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.