Three weeks after the birth of his daughter, Ozanam wrote this precious prayer, My Three Angels, to the Virgin Mary. It is worth reading and rereading it.
Texts by Ozanam
The Poor are Part of our Family • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
The couple was generous with their alms. “Almsgiving was not a duty for him, but a great honor.”
The Laity are Apostles • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
Mr. Bailly […] told me about all the tribulations that the Society [of Saint Vincent de Paul] had to suffer on...
There is no “You” without “Me,” nor “I” without “You” • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
The “I” is truly importunate and hateful, that selfish solitude does not suit the needs of my character; I need the moral accompaniment of the family, the feeling of the “We.” You are good and charitable in allowing it, and I will take you for...
We Are All Responsible • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
All Catholic countries have placed charity in the law, but what has saved them is that they have not extinguished it in their hearts. The ordinances of the kings of France would never have relieved the provinces of the misery that followed the wars of Louis XIII if...
Useless Servants • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
We are useless servants: such is the testimony that must give those who unite to serve God and men. […] Not to show ourselves, but let us to be seen: such could be our formula and is, more or less, among the maxims of a great apostle of charity, Saint Francis de...
The Fundamentals of our Faith • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
Our century has forgotten to such an extent the Christian language of our parents that it is difficult to speak without involuntarily flattering the passions of bad citizens, and without hurting the timidity of honest people. When we are moved by the advances of...
No One Succors the Poor Better than the Poor Themselves • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
Citizens of every condition, You, to whom the rigor of the times has taken away you the superfluous, you, who lack what is necessary, can do more than others, because of the evils you know. All who have the experience of public charity know that no one succours the...
People are Generous • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
Representatives of the people, Do not plead want of money. If the ordinary resources should come to fail you, if there should be nothing more to hope for from credit and reserve funds, hope everything still from the generosity of France. Openly announce the measures...
Working Tirelessly for the Impoverished • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
Representatives of the people, Do not say that you lack time. Under the shootings of the insurrection, the National Assembly asked the night for the hours denied by the day. I saw you on all the barricades, haranguing the factious, encouraging the defenders of order,...
It Is Better to Do Little than to Do Nothing • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
Representatives of the people, Do not say that you lack inspiration. […] We do not ignore the obstacles or the rivalries, nor the imperfections that stop each project and that perpetuate the debates. But we have never seen that great powers were instituted by...
We Never Do Enough • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam
Representatives of the people, We respect the magnitude and the difficulty of your task. We are not those who, by the temerity of their accusations, have the misfortune to weaken the last power capable of saving society. You continue, with just slowness, your work, by...
