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NO. 3,091.
PERTH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1943.
PRIOR TERIIIPZION.
SZITINTIZTH YZAZ.
Ozanam's Intense Love for the Poor Society of St. Vincent de Paul was Intended to Appeal to Young Men .
A study of Ozanam's life reveals a sympathetic character with a quick and ready understanding of his fellow men, and a tender solicitude for the poor and suffering. No doubt these qualities were inherited from his parents, whose lives were spent in the serA third of Dr. vice of the poor. Ozanam's practice was set aside for those in need, and in fact his death was due to a fall down a broken stairway of a tenement where he was visiting a poor patient. The example given him from his earliest years implanted charin the boy's heart the virtue ity, and it is not surprising when he and his companions were deciding on a work through which they might exOzanam Catholicism their press
*Placing Faith Under the Protection of Charity An Apostolic Work Which Surpasses Mere Philanthropy Ozanam's love for the poor is being perpetuated through this Society, and
should suggest, "Let us help our neighbour as Jesus Christ did, and let us put our faith under the protection of
charity." We read of an incident in Frederic Ozanam's life which will help us to realise the immensity of his love for the On Easter Eve on one occapoor. sion he seemed particularly gloomy and pre -occupied, and when asked by his wife the cause, he replied: "I have just been visiting a poor family of my Conference, and I cannot think without deep regret that, whilst our daughter will be so happy with her Easter presents, this Feast will bring them neither presents nor joy. See if you have any money available to enable these poor little ones to rejoice like ourselves." All that was left was necessary for the needs of the house, but the sadness of this truly Christian heart disappeared only when his wife made up her mind to give him something out of what was really necessary for themselHe hastened to the children of ves. the poor family and returned beaming with joy to celebrate with his own the happiest Easter of his life. The Organisation formed by Ozanam and his companions to carry out his ideals was the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which was simply a development of the spirit of the Apostle of Charity already existing in the Sisters of Charity, which had been founded two centuries earlier by St. Vincent de Paul. Having this in mind, it is understandable why Ozanam chose his name for the Society. Ozanam said: "To choose a patron Saint does not mean simply adopting a figure head which will help us to cut a good figure in the religious world. A
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patron Saint is a model whom we must try to imitate, as he has striven himself to imitate the Divine Model, Jesus Christ. It means trying to carry on the work He has started, endeavouring to acquire something of His warmth of heart, attempting to catch up the threads of the thoughts which were in A patron Saint provided His brain. a model for us to copy on this earth and a protector who will watch over us Ozanam was convinced in heaven."
the members of it to-day have the same aspirations as those who were responsible for its formation under God's inspiration in 1833. Unfortunately, many erroneously regarded the Society merely as a relief giving organisation, probably due to the work of corporal charity being carHowever, ried out by its members. that was contrary to Ozanam's intention, and he points out that: "Our principal object was not to come to the assistance of the poor, that was only a means we employed. Our object was to keep ourselves firm in the Catholic Faith, and to spread that Faith
amongst others through charity, extended to all, irrespective of class or "The title of the poor to our creed. is their poverty itself." that such work would be of incalcul- commiseration help our neighbour as Jesus us Let able benefit to young men, especially Christ did, and let us put our faith his own university confreres, as it under the protection of charity." would have a steadying and ennobling The Society of St. Vincent de Paul He reaeffect on their characters. was not a philanthropic body, but eslised that many young men attending sentially a spiritual society whose visits colleges and universities are often out were carried out in the spirit of God. of touch with that strata of society Mons. Bailley, at the first meeting of and of hunger pangs the have felt who the cold from insufficient clothes. He the Society, said: "If you wish to help yourselves and the poor, sanctify yourknew that bringing them into touch with the realities of life and the de- selves in seeing Jesus Christ suffering velopment of the virtues of charity and in the person of the poor." And later humility through striving to imitate he wrote: "It pleased Jesus Christ first to practice that which afterwards He the charity of their Heavenly patron, was to teach mankind." We are desirSt. Vincent de Paul, who, on his part, endeavoured when on earth to imitate ous of imitating that Divine Model so the charity of Christ, would be an ef- far as our weakness will allow. fective antidote against those many Ozanam also, in dealing with the redangers to faith with which one is con- lationship existing between the poor fronted in early manhood. and members, stresses the necessity of the cultivation of humility, and in reAlthough over a century has elapsed ferring to the poor said: "You are our since the foundation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, its potency in masters, and we are your servants in unour eyes. You are the sacred images remains sanctifying its members of God whom we do not see, and not changed.
THE SHOP FOR BETTER SERVICE. Any goods sent to country not satisfactory we pay freight. Our motto is: "We leave it; we will get it, or it cannot be had."
knowing how to love Him otherwise, we love Him in you." The early members of the Society were fully cognisant of the efficacy in spiritualising the lives of members if carried out in the right spirit. They realised the great opportunities for sanctification through the identification of Christ with the poor, and the renunciation of self in allowing Christ to do all things in us. No doubt, like their Heavenly Patron, St. Vincent de Paul, they set out on their errands of mercy through the streets of Paris, after saying to themselves: "How would Christ do this?" That is the spirit of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul which Ozanam and hi9 companions, through the Grace of God, have handed down to posterity. Without that spirit, the Society would be a corpse and worthless in God's sight, even though external works might win the applause of men, and visitation of the poor might earn the gratitude of those relieved. The acts performed would be of no avail in sanctifying the lives of members. Some who are unaware of the spiritual mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul might question the necessity of it in view of the social services now being rendered by the public authorities. It was never intended that the work of the Society be restricted to 21.nnbai asoql Jo sJaquinu SuigeiuTuilp corporal charity, and in spite of the. material assistance, there are the sick and that large body who are spiritually poor, and hunger for Truth. These await sanctification through works of Let us strive with spiritual charity. greater effort to realise Ozanam's ideals in ourselves and in the Society of our day and endeavour to deepen within our souls the nirit of Ozanam, which is the spirit of Christ. (Continued on Back Cover.)
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