In this Jubilee Year of celebrating the 350th anniversary of the deaths of Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac, I want to share some thoughts about the impact they had on others through their lives and works.

 

For a visionary to succeed, that person must have the support of others who not only share the same vision, but who are as committed to its success as the visionary.  Saint Vincent de Paul was such a visionary, and Saint Louise de Marillac was one who shared and lived his vision with him.

 

See the Face of Christ in the Poor

Saint Vincent’s vision was to see the face of Christ in the poor, so that when one served the poor, one served Christ.  Louise was by Vincent’s side in turning this vision into reality.

 

At an early age, Louise was sent to a convent where her aunt was living as a religious.  Since Louise desired to live her life in a religious community, this arrangement suited her.

 

After her father died, she had to move to a boarding school near Paris.  While living there she developed the talents that served her well in later life.

 

A Longing to Do the Will of God

Even though she lived among the French aristocracy, she was equally at home among the poor.  She eagerly worked with the Confraternities of Charity and was a leader of the Ladies of Charity.  Vincent had founded both of these organizations dedicated to helping those suffering from poverty and disease.

 

In 1630, Marguerite Naseau approached Vincent, asking him how she could serve the poor.  He sent her to Louise who put her to work with the Ladies of Charity working directly with the poor and abandoned of Paris.  Other young women soon approached Louise and Vincent, also desiring to serve the poor.

 

The Daughters of Charity

Knowing these young women would need spiritual guidance in their work, Vincent and Louise formed a religious community of women dedicated to the task of direct service to the poor—the Daughters of Charity.

 

Love of Christ compelled both Saint Vincent and Saint Louise to seek out the poor.  The poor did not lead them to God.  Jesus led the two of them together, as a team, to the poor.

 

This is the legacy Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac left us—to see the face of Christ in the poor, so that when we serve the poor, we serve Christ.