The Legion of Mary was founded by a person who was greatly influenced by the Society and spirit of Home Visitation. Their Handbook describes the work of visiting the homes as the chosen one of the Legion.
Cf.”The knowledge of social well-being and of reform is to be learned not from books nor from the public platform, but in climbing the stairs to the poor man’s garret, sitting by his bedside, feeling the same cold that pierces him, hearing the secret of his lonely troubled mind.” Frederic Ozanamhttp://www.famvin.org/enarchive/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2837
By way of further background…
Charter 1 of the Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul states:
“The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international Catholic organization of lay persons, founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam and his companions. Places under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul, the Society derives its inspirations from his thinking and work. It seeks, in a spirit of justice and charity and by person-to- person involvement of its members, to help those who are suffering.” (US Manual of the SVDP, p.37)`
From the beginning of the Society, the central and most basic activity of the Conferences has been the visitation of the needy in the home. This action is the clearest symbol of the Vincentian charism which dictates the hightest respect for the dignity of the poor: the visitor becomes the guest and the person being helped is the master. It symbolizes the fact that Vincentians are to reach out to the needy, rather than requiring them to report to an outside service site. It is in the home environment that needy persons feel most free to entrust their stories of struggle to the helper. It is there, in the family setting setting, that Vincentians are asked to listen, offer humble advice, and render assistance.” (U.S. Manual for the SVDP, p. 98)
” The foundation, the very essence of our Society is the visiting of the poor in their homes; we must see them in rags, amid all the disorder and distress of their misery, improvidence and discouragement. Such a sight is both a lesson to us, and a motive of devotedness to them.” Emmanuel Bailly 1841
For echoes of the above as seen by the International President of the SVDP see his recent Circular Letter (PDF Format)
