VINCENTIAN STUDIES COURSE

BOQUERON, CHIRIQUI, PANA

JOHN P. PRAGER, C.M. 1995

3. THE DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY

GOAL: Understand the spirit and study the foundation of the Daughters of Charity

A. ST. LOUISE DE MARILLAC

NOTE: This section only deals with Louise's role in the foundation. This might be a good place to treat her life and spirituality as well. See the separate chapter on St. Louise and the special bibliography.

READINGS FOR THE TEACHER:

Charpy, E., Contre Vents et Marées, Louise de Marillac, (Paris:l988), p. 27-44.

 --, ed., La Compagnie de Filles de la Charité aux Origine: Documents, (Paris;l989).

 --, "Ste. Louise de Marillac: Co-fondatrice," Vincentiana 34 (l990), p. 439-459.

Coste, P., "Creación y Organización de las Hijas de la Caridad: Función Respectiva de San Vicente de Paúl y Sta. Luisa de Marillac," Anales 89 (l981), p. 503-510.

 Gonthier, J., "Semblanzas Fundacionales," Anales 91
l983), p. 670-677.

 --, "Luisa, la Madre," Anales 91 (l983), p. 351ff.

 Martinez, B., La Señorita Le Gras y Santa Luisa de Marillac, (Salamanca:CEME, l991), p. 63-75.

 Orcajo, A., La Pasión por el Espíritu de Jesús: Luisa de Marillac, (MADRID: Paulinas, l992),p.61-71.

 Román, J.M., "Sta Luisa de Marillac:Fundadora de las Hijas de la Caridad," in Luisa de Marillac, (Salamanca:CEME, (l991), p. 39-70. (Also in Vincentiana 34 (l990), p.392ff.)

READINGS FOR THE NOVICES:

Dirvin, J., Louise de Marillac, (N.Y.:Farrar,Straus
& Giroux,l970), p. 87-89 & 110-121.

 

B. THE FOUNDATION OF THE DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY

 READINGS FOR THE TEACHER:

Ibáñez, J.M., La Fe Verificada en el Amor, (Madrid: Paulinas, l993).

 --, "Los Pobres Razón de Ser de las Hijas de la Caridad," in Don del Amor de Dios a la Iglesia y a los Pobres, (Salamanca:CEME, l984), p. 186-206.

 --, "La Vuelta al Espíritu de la Compañía de las Hijas de la Caridad," in Ibid, p. 125-151.

 Meyer, R. & L. Huerga, Una Institución Singular: el Superior General de la Congregación de la Misión y las Hijas de la Caridad, (Salamanca:CEME, l974), p. 44-72 & 201-205.

 Morante, L., "Actitudes desde las que se está viviendo el Servicio de los Pobres," in En Fidelidad Siempre Renovada, (Salamanca:CEME, l985), p. 235-258.

 Núñes, T., "Relectura de la Compañía de las H.C.," CLAPVI 32 (l981), p. 261-266.

 Pascual, D., "La Vocación de las Hijas de la Caridad," CLAPVI 37 (l982), p. 364-375.

 Péres-Flores, M., "Las Hijas de la Caridad según el Espíritu de los Fundadores," Anales 91 (l983), p.719-723.

 Román, J.M., "San Vicente: Fundador de las Hijas de la Caridad, "Vincentiana 34 (l990), p. 392-413.

 Trascasa, J., "El Apostolado en la Identidad de las H.C.," in Reflexones sobre la Identidad de las Hijas de la Caridad, (Salamanca:CEME, l980), p. 53-69.

READINGS FOR THE NOVICES:

Delort, B., "From the Regulations of Chatillon to the Rules of the Daughters of Charity," Vincentian Heritage 7 (l986), p. 5-26.

OPTIONAL READINGS:

Prager, J.P., "The Foundation of the Daughters of Charity: The Interaction betweenSt. Vincent and St. Louise," (N. pub. Mss).

 Rybolt, J., "From Life to Rules," Vincentian Heritage 12 (l991), p. 173-200; the same article is titled "The Genesis of the Rules," Vincentiana 34 (l990), p. 735-763.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS:

-The experience of Vincent & Louise with the poor is
the key element. They come to recognize the need
for something more than the Confraternity of Charity.

-Steps in the Foundation Process:

a. 1630-1633 Individual women working full time with the
Confraternity, living alone.

b. 1633-1645 Technically still part of the Confraternity. However, they live with St. Louise, have a rule and accept obedience to St. Vincent.

c. 1645-1651 They become the Confraternity of the Daughters of Charity under the archbishop of Paris with Vincent as his delegate. This was a legal ploy to avoid the cloister and continue the service of the poor.

d. 1651-1660 After much insistence by Louise, Vincent becomes
the superior general. Once again the goal is to preserve the service of the poor.

-Vincent and Louise jointly direct the company. It's difficult to neatly separate their spheres of authority. Generally speaking, Louise took care of the day to day matters. Vincent provided a spiritual vision. However, they share ideas on most things.

-Community structures develop. They seek to avoid anything that gives the impression of being religious.

-Like the other Vincentian foundation the mission to the poor dictates the structures.