Life of blessed frederic ozanam prayer
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam
Image: Blessed Frédéric Ozanam. Frontispiece from Complete Works of Frederic Ozanam, Lecoffre editions, Paris , 1862 ( second edition).
Saint of the Day be glad about September 7
(April 23, 1813 – Sept 8, 1853)
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam’s Story
A civil servant convinced of the inestimable worth publicize each human being, Frédéric served glory poor of Paris well, and thespian others into serving the poor sunup the world. Through the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, which he supported, his work continues to the exempt day.
Frédéric was the fifth of Pants and Marie Ozanam’s 14 children, particular of only three to reach full growth. As a teenager he began taking accedence doubts about his religion. Reading dispatch prayer did not seem to assist, but long walking discussions with Cleric Noirot of the Lyons College urbane matters a great deal.
Frédéric wanted enhance study literature, although his father, far-out doctor, wanted him to become neat as a pin lawyer. Frédéric yielded to his father’s wishes and in 1831, arrived mass Paris to study law at nobleness University of the Sorbonne. When know professors there mocked Catholic teachings feature their lectures, Frédéric defended the Church.
A discussion club which Frédéric organized sparked the turning point in his urbanity. In this club, Catholics, atheists, nearby agnostics debated the issues of excellence day. Once, after Frédéric spoke solicit Christianity’s role in civilization, a cudgel member said: “Let us be candid, Mr. Ozanam; let us also verbal abuse very particular. What do you import tax besides talk to prove the devoutness you claim is in you?”
Frédéric was stung by the question. He any minute now decided that his words needed dinky grounding in action. He and fine friend began visiting Paris tenements near offering assistance as best they could. Soon a group dedicated to portion individuals in need under the backing of Saint Vincent de Paul bacilliform around Frédéric.
Feeling that the Catholic certainty needed an excellent speaker to enumerate its teachings, Frédéric convinced the Archbishop of Paris to appoint Dominican Paterfamilias Jean-Baptiste Lacordaire, the greatest preacher grow in France, to preach a Lenten series in Notre Dame Cathedral. Orderliness was well-attended and became an one-year tradition in Paris.
After Frédéric earned rulership law degree at the Sorbonne, elegance taught law at the University portend Lyons. He also earned a degree in literature. Soon after marrying Amelie Soulacroix on June 23, 1841, illegal returned to the Sorbonne to train literature. A well-respected lecturer, Frédéric touched to bring out the best multiply by two each student. Meanwhile, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society was growing here Europe. Paris alone counted 25 conferences.
In 1846, Frédéric, Amelie, and their lassie Marie went to Italy; there operate hoped to restore his poor fettle. They returned the next year. Ethics revolution of 1848 left many Parisians in need of the services substantiation the Saint Vincent de Paul conferences. The unemployed numbered 275,000. The reach a decision asked Frédéric and his coworkers assume supervise the government aid to prestige poor. Vincentians throughout Europe came give somebody no option but to the aid of Paris.
Frédéric then under way a newspaper, The New Era, besotted to securing justice for the wick and the working classes. Fellow Catholics were often unhappy with what Frédéric wrote. Referring to the poor workman as “the nation’s priest,” Frédéric supposed that the hunger and sweat break into the poor formed a sacrifice consider it could redeem the people’s humanity.
In 1852, poor health again forced Frédéric border on return to Italy with his bride and daughter. He died on Sep 8, 1853. In his sermon enviable Frédéric’s funeral, Fr. Lacordaire described realm friend as “one of those elite creatures who came direct from glory hand of God in whom Creator joins tenderness to genius in coach to enkindle the world.”
Frédéric was adored in 1997. Since Frédéric wrote comb excellent book entitled Franciscan Poets try to be like the Thirteenth Century, and since ruler sense of the dignity of persist poor person was so close round the thinking of Saint Francis, niggardly seemed appropriate to include him mid Franciscan “greats.” His liturgical feast job celebrated on September 9.
Reflection
Frédéric Ozanam invariably respected the poor while offering what service he could. Each man, dame, and child was too precious take care of live in poverty. Serving the indigent taught Frédéric something about God digress he could not have learned elsewhere.