Clichy-la-Garonne
Clichy is a suburb west of Paris, now part of the new diocese of
Nanterre. "Garenne" is an old term referring to a restricted
forest area which in feudal times was located here. Vincent de Paul
was the resident pastor of the parish dedicated at that time to
the Holy Savior and Saint Medard. The parish, located on the plain
of the Seine river, was much larger in his day than today, reaching,
for example, into the Batignolles district, now a part of Paris
north of Montmartre. Clichy itself was mentioned in the 7th century,
and in the saint's day the Catholic inhabitants numbered about 600,
mainly poor devout peasants. He served here as pastor from 2 May
1612 (living, however, in Paris at least until December) to 1613.
He succeeded Francois Bourgoing (1585-1662), who left to become
one of the first French Oratorians. Vincent was nominated for Clichy
through the support of Pierre de Berulle, founder of the Oratory
in France. Bourgoing went to Lyons, and assisted the archbishop
in his visitation of Chatillon in 1614. Vincent oversaw the reconstruction
of the church building, an undertaking lasting until 1630.
Vincent also learned something from the good people of Clichy, as
he related to his confreres in 1659: I will confess, to my shame,
that when I found myself in my parish, I did not know how to set
about chanting the Office. I listened with admiration to peasants
intoning the Psalms, and not missing a single note Hereupon I said
to myself: “you who are their spiritual father are ignorant
of all that!” l was deeply distressed (Conference 213)
Vincent left Clichy in 1613 to become tutor and chaplain of the
Gondi family in Paris. From that date, he followed the custom of
the time and continued as nominal pastor until 1626, after the foundation
of the Congregation of the Mission. During those thirteen years,
he often returned to his parish preach and administer the sacraments,
as was his right. He also received financial reports and a little
income from his vicar, since he was still pastor. Even afterwards,
he had a mission given here (1642) and paid other visits. It should
be recalled that Vincent retained the pastorate of Clichy while
he was pastor of Chatillon-lesú-Dombes.
The present parish church, the parish of Saint Vincent de Paul,
adjoins the old church which the saint knew. The apse of the old
church joins the left aisle of the modem church. The parish is now
in a "missionary" situation, since many of the people
in the area are either not practicing Catholics or are not Christians.
(99, boulevard Jean-Jaures)
In or near the old church the following are noteworthy:
(1) The baptismal font at which the saint presided at baptisms;
it bears the date 1612, and was certainly commissioned by him for
the parish.
(2) The pulpit is regarded as the one where he preached.
(3) A crucifix which is said to have belonged to him is preserved
at the left of the main altar in an alcove.
(4) A statue of the saint in white marble, a work of the noted sculptor
Alexandre Falguiere
(1831-1900).
(5) A plaque with the names of the founders of the Society of Saint
Vincent de Paul, who came to the parish church to dedicate their
work to the saint on 20 July 1834.
(6) An old tree (now dead) in the garden, supposedly planted by
the saint.
(7) A mural painting of the saint in front of the church,
to the left of the entry. The stained glass in the old church was
destroyed in a hail storm on 11 July 1823.
(8) A reliquary which used to contain bone from the saint's
right arm. It has been stolen.
The new church, too, has interesting features:
(I) The stained glass windows, some of which depict scenes from
his life not pictured elsewhere, such as his help during the 1652
flood of the Seine. It was particularly severe at Gennevilliers1
down river from Clichy. The depiction, however, is more symbolic
than real, since Vincent did not actually come in a boat to distribute
food in person. He sent his confreres instead. Another window depicts
the first meeting of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac at the
chateau of Clichy. This is a pious invention.
(2) The modern picture of the saint, depicted as seated. His large
charitable hands are a main feature of this canvas.
(3) A modern statue of the saint, outside facing the street.
Of Vincent's parochial residence, it is said that noting remains
since it had a different axis from the present one. In it, however,
Vincent gathered some young clerics around him to help them in their
formation. Among those was young Antoine Portail (1590-1660), about
20 years old, and destined to be the saint's earliest follower and
pioneer member of the Congregation of the Mission. Vincent once
rescued his young companion from the attacks of a violent character
whose release from jail in Clichy Vincent had just arranged.
Vincent recalled his time in Clichy in a conference given to the
Daughters of Charity (Conference 55, 27 July 1653): I was once a
country parish priest. (Poor parish priest.) I had such good people
who were so obedient in carrying out all that l asked them to do
that when I told them that they should go to Confession on the first
Sunday ofihe month, they never failed to go. They came to me and
went to Confession and I saw from day to day how it profited these
souls. This afforded me so much consolation and I was so happy about
it that I used to say to myself "How happy you are to have
such good people! " And I used to add: I think that the Pope
himself is not as happy as a parish priest in the midst of such
kind hearted fold." And one day His Eminence Cardinal de Retz
asked me: "Well, Father, how are you?" I said to him:
'tram so happy, my lord, that l cannot express it.,, "Why?"
"It is because I have such good people, so obedient to all
that I tell them that I think to myself that neither the Holy Father
nor you, My Lord, are as happy I as I am."
Back to Museum
Motherhouse of the Congregation of the Mission (New Saint Lazare)
(95, rue de S6vres, Paris 6)
Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity (1 801-1815) (II, rue du
Vieux Colombier, Paris 6)
Mottlerhouse of the Daughters of Charity (140, rue du Bac, Paris
7Church of Saint Etienne du Mont (Place Sainte Genevieve, Paris
5)
Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris (Notre Dame de Paris), H6tel Dieu
Convent of the Visitation (17, rue Saint Antoine, Paris 4)
Church of saint Lawrence (68, boulevard Magenta, and 119, rue du
Faubourg Saint Martin, Paris 10)
Clichy-la-Garonne
