The first monastery of the Visitation, founded by Saint Francis
de Sales, began in 1621 in a small house on Rue du Petit Musc. It
was enlarged in 1628, and opened on to the rue Saint Antoine, a
street laid out by the ancient Romans. Its chapel, the only remaining
building, was built between 1632 and 1634. It is one of the early
buildings in French Baroque style designed by the famed architect
Francois Mansart, and is the only intact building of his in Paris.
During the construction, in 1633, Vincent arranged that certain
priests who had recently made the ordination exercises give a mission
to the workers. Their success led in some way to the foundation
of the Tuesday Conferences.
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641) lived at this convent
during her stay in Paris. As ecclesiastical superior of the Visitation
convent in Paris, Vincent de Paul often came here to give conferences,
preside at meetings, etc., from 1622 until his resignation, 18 March
1660, shortly before his death. He gave canonical testimony here
(17 April 1628) concerning the cause of beatification of Francis
de Sales. As their "spiritual father," as he said (Letter
2054) he sometimes refused permission to princesses to visit the
nuns, an indication of his care for their spiritual well-being.
King Louis XIII, however, had the right to visit, and did so often,
as did his queen, Anne of Austria. Vincent also received regular
financial reports, but generally left the fiscal management of the
monastery to others.
At the convent school, many prominent girls attended, such as the
nieces of Cardinal Mazarin. Their prank emptying their ink wells
into the holy water fonts in the chapel is still recalled. Many
noteworthy persons were buried here, including the brother bf Jane
Frances, Andre' Fremiot, archbishop of Bourges. In 1737, at the
time of Vincent's canonization, the first side chapel at the right
of the entry was dedicated in his honor. The convent remained until
1790. A Protestant church since 1802, it has been nearly stripped
of its former adornment. Its exterior remains virtually unchanged,
however, and clearly points to its former use, with the AM monogram
(Ave Maria) on the doors, and a heart pierced with arrows above
the main door.
On the rue du Petit-Musc, on the west side of the convent, lived
Noel Bruilart de SilIery (1577-1641). This wealthy knight and former
Keeper of the Seals gradually gave up his former life, and under
the direction of Vincent de Paul, began to live a charitable life,
and was ordained a priest. A commander of the Knights of Malta,
he was involved in many religious enterprises, among which was the
building of the present chapel of the Visitation. He gave large
gifts to the Congregation of the Mission, and was instrumental in
the foundation of the house at Troycs. Saint Vincent assisted at
his deathbed, and presided at his funeral in the Visitation chapel.
Vincent recalled the commander's extraordinary meekness in a conference
to his confreres: He had an ertreme affiction for the virtue of
meekness on account of an incident he witnessed when he was counsel
to the parlement He saw two of his brother lawyers fall to words
and insults; and, seeing that their countenance was deformed, pale
and frightful, he made this reflection: What! those whom Isaw with
the faces of men I now behold transformed into beasts! They snarl,
they foam, they treat each other like brutes! (Conference 202)
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
