our society

Youth SVP was founded in 1833 by a French student called Frederic Ozanam. It was not long after the French Revolution. Unemployment, riots, cholera, high infant mortality were the normal way of life for the majority of the French population. The Roman Catholic Church at this time was not popular with the disadvantaged people of France. Not only did the Church do little to help the desperate situation but many poor people believed that the Church was actually on the side of the rich and powerful people in France.

Frederic Ozanam was born in Milan in Italy on April 23, 1813 but grew up in Lyon in France. At 18, he went to university in Paris to study for a law career as his father, a doctor, expected. He was very homesick in his first term but gradually acquired a circle of friends who used to meet regularly on Sunday evenings to discuss his main interests – religion and politics. The skill of argument seemed to come naturally to Frederic and he liked nothing better than defending and taking seriously the teachings of the Catholic Church.

One day in a heated argument Frederic was challenged by a fellow student who did not share Frederic’s Catholic beliefs: “Your faith exists in books, not in deeds, Monsieur Ozanam. What are you Catholics doing to help the poor and the underprivileged?” Fredric was quick to the defence of the Catholic religion. “The Church has always been a friend of the poor”, he replied. “Christ came to save all mankind….” But his adversary interrupted him. “You speak of the past, Monsieur Ozanam. I am asking you what are the Catholics of today doing, you and your companions?”

Frederic was deeply disturbed by the question and the argument proved a turning point in his life. The following Sunday evening, Frederic and his companions wondered what practical response they could make. Soon, having searched in a small cupboard where they kept spare firewood, Frederic and a friend went to visit an elderly neighbour who lived alone. Soon it became obvious that the neighbour did not really need the firewood. What he craved much more was somebody to speak to. His spiritual needs were more important than his material needs – a point that was not lost on Frederic. Frederic and his companions now realised that Christianity was about actions and not words.

On April 23^rd 1833, Frederic’s 20^th birthday, the students met as usual  but this time at the home of the 41 year old journalist and history lecturer Emmanuel Bailly whom they asked to lead the meeting. Bailly began the meeting with a prayer – the “Come, Holy Spirit”. Then the next week’s visits to local people in need were planned. Food was prepared to take out on their visits and items of second hand clothing sorted. The students decided to name their group after a 17^th century apostle of charity called St. Vincent de Paul who became their patron. The St. Vincent de Paul Society had been born. SVP groups – called conferences – spread quickly throughout France. By the time of Fredric’s premature death from liver disease at the age of 40, there were 500 conferences throughout France.

In 1844 the St. Vincent de Paul Society reached England. Today it exists in 132 countries worldwide. In 1997 Frederic Ozanam was beatified by Pope John Paul 11 in Paris where it all began.

Extra information: YSVP learn  - Vincentian family
External links: SVP England & Wales - International SVP website