A man convinced of the inestimable worth of each human being,
Frédéric served the poor of Paris well and drew others into serving the poor of
the world. Through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, his work continues to the
present day.
Frédéric was the fifth of Jean and Marie Ozanam’s 14
children, one of only three to reach adulthood. As a teenager he
began having doubts about his religion. Reading and prayer did not seem to
help, but long walking discussions with Father Noirot of the Lyons College
clarified matters a great deal.
Frédéric wanted to study literature, although his father, a
doctor, wanted him to become a lawyer. Frédéric yielded to his father’s
wishes and in 1831 arrived in Paris to study law at the University of the
Sorbonne. When certain professors there mocked Catholic teachings in their
lectures, Frédéric defended the Church.
A discussion club which Frédéric organized sparked
the turning point in his life. In this club Catholics, atheists and
agnostics debated the issues of the day. Once, after Frédéric
spoke about Christianity’s role in civilization, a club member said: "Let
us be frank, Mr. Ozanam; let us also be very particular. What do you do besides talk
to prove the faith you claim is in you?"
Frédéric was stung by the question. He soon decided that his
words needed a grounding in action. He and a friend began visiting Paris
tenements and offering assistance as best they could. Soon a group dedicated to
helping individuals in need under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul formed
around Frédéric.
Feeling that the Catholic faith needed an excellent speaker to
explain its teachings, Frédéric convinced the Archbishop of Paris to
appoint Father Lacordaire, the greatest preacher then in France, to preach a
Lenten series in Notre Dame Cathedral. It was well attended and became an
annual tradition in Paris.
After Frédéric earned his law degree at the Sorbonne, he
taught law at the University of Lyons. He also earned a doctorate in
literature. Soon after marrying Amelie Soulacroix on June 23, 1841, he returned
to the Sorbonne to teach literature. A well-respected lecturer, Frédéric
worked to bring out the best in each student. Meanwhile, the St. Vincent de
Paul Society was growing throughout Europe. Paris alone counted 25 conferences.
In 1846, Frédéric, Amelie and their daughter Marie went to Italy;
there he hoped to restore his poor health. They returned the next year.
The revolution of 1848 left many Parisians in need of the services of the St.
Vincent de Paul conferences. The unemployed numbered 275,000. The government
asked Frédéric and his co-workers to supervise the government aid to the
poor. Vincentians throughout Europe came to the aid of Paris.
Frédéric then started a newspaper, The New Era,
dedicated to securing justice for the poor and the working classes. Fellow
Catholics were often unhappy with what Frédéric wrote. Referring to the
poor man as "the nation’s priest," Frédéric said that the hunger
and sweat of the poor formed a sacrifice that could redeem the people’s
humanity
In 1852 poor health again forced Frédéric to return to Italy
with his wife and daughter. He died on September 8, 1853. In his sermon at
Frédéric’s funeral, Lacordaire described his friend as "one of those
privileged creatures who came direct from the hand of God in whom God joins
tenderness to genius in order to enkindle the world."
Frédéric was beatified in 1997. Since Frédéric wrote an
excellent book entitled Franciscan Poets of the Thirteenth Century and
since Frederick’s sense of the dignity of each poor person was so close to the
thinking of St. Francis, it seemed appropriate to include him among Franciscan
"greats."
Comment:
Frédéric Ozanam always respected poor while offering whatever service he could. Each man, woman and child was too precious for that. Serving the poor taught Frédéric something about God that he could not have learned elsewhere.
Frédéric Ozanam always respected poor while offering whatever service he could. Each man, woman and child was too precious for that. Serving the poor taught Frédéric something about God that he could not have learned elsewhere.
Quote:
In his homily at the eatification Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral,
Blessed John Paul II mentioned that before World War II he belonged
to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He noted that Frédéric Ozanam
"observed the real situation of the poor and sought to be more and more
effective in helping them in their human development. He understood that
charity must lead to efforts to rectify injutice. Charity and justice go
together."
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