The first work undertaken by the Ladies of Charity of Paris was to visit the women patients at Hôtel-Dieu hospital, bring them something to eat, exhort them to bear their illnesses, and to make a good general confession. Daughters of Charity were assigned to support the visits made by the Ladies.
According to Father Ed Udovic, in his monthly historical posts, “The Hôtel-Dieu hospital located close to the cathedral of Notre Dame on the Ile de la Cité was one of the most important charitable institutions of Paris during St. Vincent’s time.
“Saint Vincent told the Daughters to “show great honor and respect to the nuns of the Hôtel-Dieu, both because they deserve this and also in recognition of the honor they do them of allowing them to minister in their house, and they will strive to be an edification to them.”
“The nuns were greatly influenced by the example of the Ladies and Daughters of Charity as well as by the general reform movement that
was taking place among the traditional religious orders in Counter-Reformation France. Between 1650 and 1652 the nuns under the leadership of Mère du Saint-Nom de Jesus (Geneviève Bouquet) completely revised their 1535 constitutions. This was done under the authority of François Lavocat, the hospital’s “visitor” appointed by the cathedral chapter. Perhaps most notably, in addition to the three traditional vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience the nuns now added a fourth vow to serve the poor-sick.
Tags: Hotel Dieu, Paris
