Today, we pause to honor the feast day of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and a true witness of how the Gospel comes alive when we serve the poor. Nearly two centuries after he first gathered with fellow university students in Paris to form what would become our Society, his vision continues to shape and inspire our mission here in the United States and around the world.
Frédéric was not a priest or religious, but a lay Catholic with a restless heart. At just twenty years old, Frédéric and his companions resolved to put their faith into action by visiting the poor in their homes and offering what help they could. In these encounters, Frédéric discovered something profound: that in serving the poor, we do not only give—we also receive. He reminded us that Christ is present in the poor, and that when we draw close to them as our brothers and sisters, we draw closer to God.
Frédéric understood the struggles of his time—political upheaval, poverty, and doubts about faith – and yet, his response was not despair. Instead, his response was a radical act of love. He believed the Gospel demanded action. His life reminds us that holiness is not an abstract concept, but a daily choice to love and see Christ in the poor and to serve with compassion.
That charism remains the beating heart of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Every day, Vincentians across our nation carry forward this spirit of humble service. In living rooms, kitchens, and shelters, you listen to stories, pay an overdue utility bill, bring groceries, pray with families, and walk beside neighbors who feel forgotten.
You may arrive thinking you are there to provide assistance, but so often you leave with a deeper faith, renewed hope, and the grace of encountering Christ.
On this feast day, we give thanks for Blessed Frédéric’s life and legacy. We remember that our work is not just charity, but a vocation. It is the living out of Christ’s call to love “the least of these.” It is a journey of transformation—for those we serve and for ourselves.
As we reflect on Blessed Frédéric, I am mindful of the lives of the examples of two other saints whose lives are a reflection of the Vincentian values we hold dear.
Last Sunday, Pope Leo XIV canonized St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, whose life was spent serving the poor in his native Turin. Less known, perhaps, is that he was an active and passionate Vincentian from the age of 17 until his untimely passing from polio at 24.
His sister, Luciana, recounted how, on his deathbed and with his hand paralyzed by the disease, he scribbled instructions to a colleague who was attending the weekly meeting of his SVdP conference. “Medicines needed to be delivered. A pawn ticket needed renewed. Only then could he rest in peace.”
It is also fitting that Blessed Frédéric’s feast day this year is so close to the 50th anniversary of the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on Sept. 14. Mother Seton was the first native-born American to become a saint and, for our purposes, is especially significant because she brought the Vincentian charism to the United States. The Sisters of Charity and the American province of the Daughters of Charity, whose lineages extends back to the Order she founded, are vital members of the international Vincentian community.
As Vincentians, we are heirs to Frédéric’s vision and the work and prayers of people like Pier Giorgio, Mother Seton, and all those who have followed them – including each one of you. Our world today faces its own challenges: economic hardship, isolation, injustice, and division. Yet their example shows us the way forward. We can choose hope over despair, service over indifference, and faith over fear.
Let us recommit ourselves today to the mission entrusted to us: to care for the poor, the forgotten, and the vulnerable. Let us walk together, encouraged by Frédéric’s witness, strengthened by prayer, and confident that Christ goes before us.
May Blessed Frédéric Ozanam continue to intercede for us and inspire us to serve with the same zeal, humility, and love that marked his life. And may our own encounters with the poor lead us ever closer to Christ, who is the source of our hope and joy.
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!
