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Pa, Ma, And Fa: Private Lives Of Nineteenth-Century American Vincentians, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Pa, Ma, And Fa: Private Lives Of Nineteenth-Century American Vincentians, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
John Rybolt summarizes the correspondence written by nine Vincentians to members of the prominent Willcox family of Ivy Mills, Pennsylvania. As Rybolt explains, “These letters offer probably the only surviving glimpse of the private lives and thoughts of American Vincentians in the mid-nineteenth century.” The Vincentians and the Willcoxes were close: the Vincentians called their main correspondent, Mary Willcox, Ma and her husband Pa. One of the Vincentians referred to himself as Fa. The priests helped Ma with her spiritual development, and she and her family were surrogates for the families the Vincentians had left behind in Europe. All the …
Succeeding The Jesuits: The Congregation Of The Mission And The Colégio Da Purificação In Evora, Sean A. Smith Ph.D.
Succeeding The Jesuits: The Congregation Of The Mission And The Colégio Da Purificação In Evora, Sean A. Smith Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Sean Smith uses the former Jesuit college in Evora, Portugal, as a case study in the transfer of Jesuit institutions to the Congregation’s direction. He examines whether the Congregation enjoyed the same patronage as the Jesuits, how the transition between the Jesuits and the Congregation was made, and whether “the Lazarists’ succession filled the educational and missionary gaps left by the Society of Jesus in Evora.” He traces the history of each community in Portugal and places it within the context of the communities’ changing fortunes throughout Europe. He concludes that, in Portugal at least, the transfer of power from …
Vincentian Pilgrimage Hospitality: Historical And Contemporary Perspectives, Edward R. Udovic C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Pilgrimage Hospitality: Historical And Contemporary Perspectives, Edward R. Udovic C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Edward Udovic narrates the history of Vincentian pilgrimages and the tradition of hospitality within it. He describes the significance of different Vincentian pilgrimage sites, especially Saint-Lazare. He explains the role of inclusivity within DePaul University’s mission and how the university “uses pilgrimages (or Heritage Tours) as a tool to enhance mission engagement” among specially selected faculty, staff, and students. The trips are an important aspect of the university community’s Vincentian formation. Participants, who may not be Catholic or members of any organized religion, are supposed to use the experience to discern how their own values harmonize with the university’s mission. …
The Future Of The Vincentian Charism In The United States: Challenges, Trends, And Opportunities, Scott Kelley Ph.D., Jessica Werner Ph.D.
The Future Of The Vincentian Charism In The United States: Challenges, Trends, And Opportunities, Scott Kelley Ph.D., Jessica Werner Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Membership in the Vincentian Family is declining, which raises the question of how the Vincentian charism will continue in the United States. Scott Kelley and Jessica Werner identify characteristics of new “institutional forms” necessary to carry the mission forward. They see great potential in the people they call unaffiliated lay Vincentians (ULVs). Although these young adults have no formal relationship with the Vincentian Family, ULVs are Vincentian because they “have been formed in and continue to self-identify with the Vincentian mission in profound ways.” ULVs were surveyed and interviewed to understand their spirituality and religiosity, how the Vincentian mission affects …
The Era Of Boundlessness At St. Mary’S Of The Barrens, 1818-1843: A Brief Historical Analysis, Richard J. Janet Ph.D.
The Era Of Boundlessness At St. Mary’S Of The Barrens, 1818-1843: A Brief Historical Analysis, Richard J. Janet Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Richard Janet analyzes the early history of Saint Mary’s of the Barrens according to the historian Philip Gleason’s view of the development of American Catholicism. Gleason sees the arc of American Catholicism as moving from a period of “boundlessness,” in which institutions engaged in all types of works, to the mid-nineteenth-century period of “consolidation,” in which leaders tried to manage growth in a way that would stabilize those institutions. Gleason’s thesis is discussed in detail. The work of Felix De Andreis, Joseph Rosati, and John Timon is examined. They faced many problems inherent in maintaining a Vincentian community while ministering …
Vincentian Education: A Survey Of Its History, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Education: A Survey Of Its History, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
From its beginning, the Congregation has worked in education, although until recently this was seen to conflict with its primary focus on missions. However, its involvement began with Vincent de Paul’s interest in instructing poor persons in religion. Vincent was also concerned with the reform of the clergy, so the Congregation became heavily committed to seminaries. Seminaries became especially important to the rebuilding of the French church after the Revolution. After the Jesuits’ suppression, the Vincentians took over many of their secondary schools and replaced the Jesuits at universities. In many international missions, the Vincentians intended to start seminaries but …
Vincent De Paul: The Principles And Practice Of Government, 1625–60, Alison Forrestal Ph.D.
Vincent De Paul: The Principles And Practice Of Government, 1625–60, Alison Forrestal Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Alison Forrestal explains how the government of the Congregation developed and functioned, and how it operated in relation to the Ladies of Charity and the Daughters of Charity. Vincent de Paul devoted a great deal of attention to governance for all three groups. For them “to share a sense common of identity and familial fraternity,” he emphasized that they were united through their common purpose. He expected everyone involved in government to be guided by trust in providence and the imitation of Christ. He also paid special attention to the formation of leaders for all three groups and treated those …
Saint Vincent De Paul And Money, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Saint Vincent De Paul And Money, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
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.
Missionaries Extraordinaire: The Vincentians From Saint Mary's Of The Barrens Seminary, Patrick Foley Ph.D.
Missionaries Extraordinaire: The Vincentians From Saint Mary's Of The Barrens Seminary, Patrick Foley Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
The history of Saint Mary of the Barrens Seminary is discussed. It was essential to the evangelization of the trans-Mississippi and Southwest. Its importance is exemplified in the life of Jean-Marie Odin. Along with John Timon, he was one of America’s “most renowned Catholic frontier missionaries.” Odin served many roles at the seminary, including as professor, as the college’s president, and as secretary and successor to Joseph Rosati when the latter was the rector. As Saint Mary’s sole priest, Odin went on many mission trips in the area. In 1840, when he became Vice Prefect Apostolic of Texas, there were …
The Vincentian Higher Education Apostolate In The United States, Dennis H. Holtschneider C.M., Ed.D., Edward R. Udovic C.M., Ph.D.
The Vincentian Higher Education Apostolate In The United States, Dennis H. Holtschneider C.M., Ed.D., Edward R. Udovic C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Dennis Holtschneider and Edward Udovic note that “in the United States, a college degree is the single most effective way to lift a person out of poverty.” Due to the rising costs of higher education, persons who are poor are much less likely to go to college, and those who do are less likely to graduate. Vincentian universities in the US educate poor persons to “break the cycle of poverty,” encourage all students to serve those in need, research causes of and solutions to poverty, and serve the poor in other ways. A brief history of American Vincentian educational institutions …
In The Face Of Adversity: The Response Of The Vincentian And Charity Families To 9/11, Regina Bechtle S.C.
In The Face Of Adversity: The Response Of The Vincentian And Charity Families To 9/11, Regina Bechtle S.C.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
The response of the Vincentian and Charity Families to the attacks of 9/11 is chronicled, using people’s own words wherever possible. On the day itself and during the aftermath, Sisters of Charity and Vincentians prayed with and counseled grieving people, first responders, and rescue workers. Personnel from Saint Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center were among the earliest to arrive at Ground Zero, and the Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers treated over one thousand victims. Among other things, Sisters of Charity served as New York Police Department chaplains, answered calls to hospital information lines, and worked at a DNA collection site …
Repetitions Of Prayer In Saint Lazare, Thomas Davitt C.M.
Repetitions Of Prayer In Saint Lazare, Thomas Davitt C.M.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
What we know of Repetitions of Prayer at Saint-Lazare offers insight into daily life there. We also learn more about Vincent de Paul’s leadership of the community and how he dealt with confreres’ faults. His solutions were not always perfect, but they show an aspect of his humanity that is sometimes overshadowed by his sainthood.
Virtues Of The Congregation Of The Mission, Barry W. Moriarty C.M.
Virtues Of The Congregation Of The Mission, Barry W. Moriarty C.M.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Even in its early days, the Congregation was noted for its virtues. Vincent de Paul led his confreres by example and stressed the acquisition of five virtues that would make them effective, Christlike missionaries. These virtues were simplicity, humility, gentleness, mortification, and zeal for souls. Barry Moriarty defines them and explains the necessity for each.
Vincentian Pioneers Of The Mississippi Valley (1818–1900), Dennis P. Mccann
Vincentian Pioneers Of The Mississippi Valley (1818–1900), Dennis P. Mccann
Vincentian Heritage Journal
This article pertains to an exhibit at DePaul University’s library that was meant to educate people about DePaul’s Vincentian identity. Dennis McCann discusses the history of the Congregation and of the Daughters of Charity in the United States and explains what the items in the exhibit reveal about that history. There are twelve groups of objects with themes that include: the Congregation’s early mission in the United States, the linkage of the American mission with its French Vincentian Heritage, Vincentian iconography, life at Saint Mary of the Barrens, the history of the Basilica of Saint Louis (Old Cathedral), the institutions …
"A Brave New World": The Vincentians In Pioneer America, Stafford Poole C.M.
"A Brave New World": The Vincentians In Pioneer America, Stafford Poole C.M.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
This article discusses the Vincentian mission in the United States from 1816 to the Civil War. The Vincentians came to America at the behest of the first bishop of Louisiana for the purpose of founding a seminary and giving local or parish missions. The history of Saint Mary’s Seminary is recounted. Until 1843, it was the Vincentians’ only canonical house in the United States and served many functions. After the mission became a province in 1835, the Vincentians were offered the direction of almost all the American diocesan seminaries, although this did not last. The Vincentians tried to give missions, …
"What About The Poor?" Nineteenth-Century Paris And The Revival Of Vincentian Charity, Edward R. Udovic C.M., Ph.D.
"What About The Poor?" Nineteenth-Century Paris And The Revival Of Vincentian Charity, Edward R. Udovic C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
During the Industrial Revolution, poor persons constituted up to half the population of Paris. They were considered to be criminal, and their poverty was seen as a punishment for this. The Church believed the traditional social order was divinely ordained. The rich were to be charitable and the poor were to be resigned to their status; these conditions were necessary for the salvation of both groups. In the Church’s eyes, the rich and the poor each contributed to the gap between them, and they could only be reconciled by returning to Christian values and the traditional social hierarchy. It was …
Notable Vincentians (4): Francis Mary Simonin, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Notable Vincentians (4): Francis Mary Simonin, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Francis Mary Simonin was one of the earliest Vincentians in the United States. He conducted missions among the Native Americans in 1837. He also served Catholics in several different areas. Within this article is a letter from Simonin himself on the progress of the Vincentian mission in America. Accounts of his death recall his many virtues, especially his exemplary spirituality and his great efficacy as a missionary.
Vincent De Paul's Discernment Of His Own Vocation And That Of The Congregation Of The Mission, Douglas Slawson C.M.
Vincent De Paul's Discernment Of His Own Vocation And That Of The Congregation Of The Mission, Douglas Slawson C.M.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Vincent de Paul discovered his vocation and that of the Congregation in several ways. These were fulfilling the Church’s needs, seeking evidence of God’s will in events, and obeying God’s will, either as mandated by superiors or by following inspiration that responded to events. Such inspiration was always carefully examined before being put into practice. These elements are traced through Vincent’s life and career. Through work with Pierre de Berulle, he saw the need for properly formed priests, especially for country parishes. His ministry on the Gondi estates, especially the mission at Folleville, further convinced him of the poor’s need …
Saint Vincent's College And Theological Education, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Saint Vincent's College And Theological Education, John E. Rybolt C.M., Ph.D.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
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 Vincentian Family And Napoleon, John W. Carven C.M.
The Vincentian Family And Napoleon, John W. Carven C.M.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
The Congregation was suppressed and the Daughters of Charity were dissolved due to the French Revolution, although they continued to work outside France. Napoleon reinstated the Daughters of Charity first because of the hospitals’ need for them. The Congregation was re-established because of its relationship with the Daughters and because he believed its foreign missions would spread French influence and prevent other nations from gaining power. To minimize opposition to the Congregation’s 1804 re-establishment, Napoleon manipulated terminology associated with it. He renamed it the Congregation of the Priests of the Mission and officially limited its work to foreign missions. However, …
The Vincentian Mission, 1625–1660, James E. Smith C.M.
The Vincentian Mission, 1625–1660, James E. Smith C.M.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
Vincent de Paul pioneered missions exclusively for the rural poor. France had badly trained and often vocationless clergy, and people were ill educated about their faith, especially in the country. The missions were free and conducted when the people were not working. Missioners would meet with local clergy in advance to address each parish’s specific needs. Missions consisted of sermons, two catechisms, confession, First and general Communion, and the resolution of personal disputes. Provisions were also made for the ongoing care of the parish’s poorest, usually with the establishment of Confraternities of Charity. Details on all aspects of the missions …
A History Of The American Vincentian Fathers In Panama, Robert J. Swain C.M.
A History Of The American Vincentian Fathers In Panama, Robert J. Swain C.M.
Vincentian Heritage Journal
In 1914, American Vincentians from the Eastern Province began serving in Panama. They helped develop the Panamanian church under the four foreign bishops who headed it from 1903 to 1963. The Americans ministered primarily in the Canal Zone, especially Balboa, but also in Colόn, Bocas del Toro, a West Indian parish of thousands in Panama City, Cristobal, and Chiriquí, among other places. They had four houses, churches, chapels, and schools, including the Colegio San Vicente de Paúl in David. As the Panamanians’ direction of their church mirrored their increasing control over their country, large portions of the article are dedicated …