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Vincentian Seminaries In Louisiana (1), John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

This is the first of two studies on Vincentian seminaries in Louisiana. “The Ecclesiastical Seminary of Saint Vincent of Paul,” located in Bayou LaFourche, opened in November 1838 after about a decade of discussion. The Vincentians had initially refused to direct it because of the financial burden it would place on them and because of possible disruption to their existing seminary at the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri. However, John Timon accepted it because educating candidates for the priesthood was a Vincentian work. The circumstances of the seminary’s founding are recounted in detail. The seminary’s life, curriculum, faculty, and finances are …

Saint Vincent's College And Theological Education, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

Saint Vincent’s College in Cape Girardeau, Mississippi opened in 1838 as a boys’ school and was incorporated as a college in 1843, providing mainly secular secondary education. It became a common seminary for several dioceses in 1860. During the Civil War, skirmishes and the Battle of Cape Girardeau came near it, and the loyalties of its faculty and students were divided. Nonetheless, classes continued throughout the war. Afterward, the college faced anti-Catholic bigotry and bankruptcy, and returned to accepting secular students for various reasons. It had many notable alumni and faculty, including bishops and Vincentian provincials respectively. It resumed its …

The Emblem And Motto Of The Congregation Of The Mission, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

The emblem of Jesus standing on a globe with his arms stretched downward and the biblical citation Evangelizare pauperibus misit me are the Congregation’s most familiar emblem and motto. They have been known since the time of Vincent de Paul, but have only been used together since the mid-nineteenth century. Their origins and antecedents, along with other emblems and mottos that have been employed, are discussed. Their uses and theological meaning are explained. Twenty-six images are included.

Deandreis-Rosati Memorial Archives, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

This is a preliminary inventory of the DeAndreis-Rosati Memorial Archives, located in the Congregation’s mother house of the United States, St. Mary’s Seminary, in Perryville, Missouri. The archives include materials on St. Mary’s Seminary, St. Vincent’s College, Dallas University, DePaul University, St. John’s University, and Niagara University; historical materials on the house of St. Mary’s and of the province, such as John Timon’s diary and letters; copybooks and materials on the cause of Felix De Andreis; items dealing with the government and houses of the Western (now Midwest) Province (e.g., vow books and provincial assembly minutes); Superior General Charles Souvay’s …

Barrens Memoir By John Timon, C.M. (1861), John Timon C.M., John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

John Timon gives his account of Congregation’s development in the United States from the mission’s beginning until 1847. The narrative is largely focused on Timon’s own work and ends when he becomes bishop of Buffalo, New York. He recounts the growth of the foundation at the Barrens, his mission trips with Jean-Marie Odin in the surrounding area, and their 1824 trip through Arkansas. He recalls many conversions, including those of condemned men, his successful public defenses of Catholicism against anti-Catholic Protestant ministers, and the acquisition of the Congregation’s property and foundation of the parish in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Much attention …

Vincentian Seminaries In Louisiana (2), John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

This article continues the study of Vincentian seminaries in Louisiana begun in the previous issue. Saint Vincent’s Theological Seminary, open from 1859 to 1867, and the Saint Louis Diocesan Seminary, open from 1900 to 1907, were in the same building next to Saint Stephen’s Church in New Orleans. The treatment of Saint Vincent’s describes its finances and gives the reasons for its selection as the relocation site for students from the seminary at LaFourche. Various reasons, including the threat of yellow fever, led to a generally small student body, except for two large groups in 1863 and 1867. The cost …

Saint Vincent De Paul: Bibliography To 1991, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

This bibliography includes everything published about Vincent de Paul in English through 1990. Part I is dedicated to books, pamphlets, and theses. Part II covers periodical and encyclopedia articles and book reviews. Small entries in lives of saints, newspaper articles, and nonprint audio-visual items are not included.

Notable Vincentians (2): Brother Martin Blanka, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

Martin Blanka was a coadjutor brother, the first brother in the American mission. A man of many virtues, his piety, patience, discretion, and resourcefulness were especially esteemed. He helped establish the seminary at Saint Mary’s of the Barrens; he served as carpenter, stonemason, cook, and tailor. He was responsible for maintaining the good order of the house. His prayers were also much admired as an example for others in the community. Toward the end of his life, he served at the Seminary of Saint Vincent de Paul in Louisiana.

Madame De Gondi: A Contemporary Seventeenth-Century Life, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D., Barbara B. Diefendorf

John E Rybolt

There are few sources of information about Madame de Gondi’s life, and the prevailing view has held that she was selfish, insecure, and neurotic. This sketch of her many virtues comes from a 1630 collection of women’s lives written by Brother Hilarion de Coste and appears to have been unknown to Pierre Coste and other scholars of Vincent de Paul’s relationship with Madame de Gondi. Brother Hilarion’s information came from oral and published sources, and he also knew Vincent, quoting him regarding one incident. This portrait of Madame de Gondi has particular authenticity. In accordance with contemporary expectations of women, …

Saint Vincent De Paul In Fiction, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

Vincent de Paul appeared in two nineteenth-century novels. The first was William Henry Anderdon’s Antoine de Bonneval: A Tale of Paris in the Days of St. Vincent de Paul, which appeared sometime between 1857 and 1860. The second was Madame Chervert’s The Galley Slave. An Incident in the Life of St. Vincent de Paul, which was translated into English in 1865. The article gives profiles of both authors and plot summaries of their novels. Antoine de Bonneval introduced Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac to the English-speaking world when biographies of them did not exist in English. Both novels …

A New Letter Of Felix De Andreis, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

In his introduction to this 1817 letter of Felix De Andreis, John Rybolt notes that it is of particular significance because it is the only one De Andreis wrote while he was in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri. Rybolt writes, “In this letter his response to the difficulties he faced is typical of the perspective seen throughout his correspondence: redemptive suffering, personal humility against the backdrop of his fame and success in Rome, a reliance on divine providence for the future of his mission.” De Andreis recounts the hardships of the frontier and describes his parishioners and his ministry among them. He …

From Life To The Rules, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

The development of the Daughters of Charity’s Rules and their main themes are discussed. The Rules originate from those Vincent de Paul laid out for the first Confraternity of Charity in 1617. These early rules made care for poor persons the confraternity’s main focus and specified methods for the members’ spiritual development. Louise de Marillac and Vincent agreed on some rules for the Daughters, but these were not codified. In 1643, he gave a conference explaining the order of the day and how to cultivate the virtues necessary in a Daughter of Charity. In 1645, Vincent wrote a draft of …

American Vincentians In 1877–1878: The Maller Visitation Report (2), John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

In 1877, Mariano Maller, the provincial of Spain, was sent on an extraordinary visitation to investigate alleged mismanagement of the American province. This translation of his report is continued from the first issue of volume 18. Maller describes the history of the houses he visits and assesses finances, works, individuals, and the province as a whole. The recommendations he left with the confreres at many of the houses are included. He also suggests naming a new provincial.

Saint Vincent De Paul: Bibliography To Present Day, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

This bibliography includes everything published about Vincent de Paul in English through 1990. Part I is dedicated to books, pamphlets, and theses. Part II covers periodical and encyclopedia articles and book reviews. Small entries in lives of saints, newspaper articles, and nonprint audio-visual items are not included.

Notable Vincentians (3): Brother Angelo Oliva, C.M., John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

Angelo Oliva, a brother who was one of the first Vincentians in America, is remembered for his personal qualities and artistic talents. A sculptor and mason, he spent several years constructing the church at the Barrens, which was finished in 1837. Patient and constant, Oliva held himself above the complaints and dissension of the other brothers at the Barrens.

Saint Vincent De Paul And Money, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

The economic structures of seventeenth-century France, Vincent de Paul’s financial management, and his theory behind it are explained. His financial responsibilities and the sources of income for the Confraternities of Charity, the Congregation, and the Daughters of Charity are enumerated. In general, Vincent viewed money as a resource to be husbanded for the benefit of persons who were poor.

Liturgical Prayers In Honor Of Saint Vincent De Paul, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

Nineteen sets of short liturgical prayers, honoring Vincent de Paul are presented in Latin and English, accompanied by brief summaries of the texts. They span the time from 1668 to 1973. The prayers cite Vincent’s piety and ministry. They ask for the supplicants to be inspired by and endowed with his virtues, especially his charity, to continue his service. His intercession is also requested. A twentieth Anglican prayer in English is included for completeness. As John Rybolt writes, “What the Church believes about Saint Vincent, lex credendi, shows a shift in emphasis from the earliest official collects to the present.”

Illustrations In The Common Rules Of The Congregation Of The Mission, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.

John E Rybolt

Vincent de Paul only pursued art as it was useful for teaching or assisting in the attainment of spiritual goals. John Rybolt describes and analyzes the two engravings in the original edition of the Common Rules. These constitute the title page and the frontispiece, which are reprinted here. Vincent approved these and they summarize the themes of his teachings. Both convey reverence for the Trinity. The title page also highlights the importance of veneration for the Eucharist and devotion to Mary. The frontispiece shows Jesus teaching or healing, and sending his apostles to continue this work. The importance of imitating …

Electronic Sources For Vincentian Studies, John E. Rybolt

John E Rybolt