What is this Vincentian Encyclopedia?

Still in its embryonic stages this is a collaborative effort to create a Vincentian encyclopedia of articles and other information useful for those who follow Vincent, Louise and their spiritual companions sometimes commonly refered to as the "Vincentian family". It will contain articles related to Vincentian spirituality and information about the various groups they founded. As such it is an encyclopedia created "by" and "for" the Vincentian Family.

The uniqueness of this project lies in the fact that it will be a collaborative effort of many people using technology which is rapidly changing the way content is created on the web. This as yet little known software allows large numbers of people to work collaboratively on a web site. The best known example at present is "Wikipedia", a free user created encyclopedia whose English version already boast more than one half a million entries.

This adaptation of wikipedia is presently set up so that 'any registered user of this site can edit any page (with the exception of certain pages such as legal documents, e.g. Constitutions of the Congregation of the Mission. To register use the login/register link at the top right of this page. At some future point we have the option to increase the level of security on the wiki as a whole or just individual sections.

The software behind this project will also allow many other forms of collaboration . For example, work groups and committees can draft documents collaboratively before or after committee meetings saving travel time and expenses. See example Using this site to collaborate on a document.Depending up the nature of the group this type of collaboration can be pass-word protected if so desired.

It can allow an exchange of information about ongoing projects such as Vincentian-Setonian Researchers.

1642: King Louis XIII of France accepted the Bull "Salvatoris Nostri" erecting the Congregation of the Mission signed by Pope Urban VIII on January 12, 1633.

1653: Conference of Vincent de Paul in Saint Lazare on the obligation of those who remain in the House to contribute to missions. He dealt with the reasons that require them to do so and practices that each is proposed for this purpose.

1659: Conference of Vincent de Paul in Saint Lazare on indifference, what explains Article 10 of Chapter II of the Rules Commons.

'1833: The first Visitatrice of Italy is arriving to Turin. She came shortly after opening the seminary where young sisters successively stay with 33 Sisters from the six existing houses.

1940: In Paris, dead in his armchair is found Fr Luciano Misermont, seventy-six years old. Born on July 17, 1864 in Dordogne. He had an impulsive temper which strove to control his entire life. He was Superior of two seminaries in Sicily, the scholar in Lille and Marseille. He dealt with the processes of canonization of St. Louise de Marillac, Daughters of Charity of Arras, Jean Le Vacher, blessed François Joseph Louis and Pierre-René Rogue and, above all, St. Catherine Labouré.

l950: Fr. Jean-Baptiste Lachat died in Paris. After six years of teaching in major seminary in Sens and fifteen years of working in Ecuador, he lived thirty-one years at the infirmary of the Motherhouse. He accepted his fate, not only with patience, but with joy. Like Saint Theresa of Lisieux, for whom he had a particular devotion, he reproduced the missionary cloistered life, transforming his thirty-one years of painful and hidden life in thirty-one years of prayer for working missionaries.

Other Dates

Many people in the Society and Church of Vincent de Paul's time had an influence on his life and work.

• Vincentian Heritage People provides backgrounds of the lives of some of these people.

Some of those who follow Vincent's approach to proclaiming the Gospel are recognized at Saints and Blessed by the Church.

• Vincentian Family Saints offers more information on these people.

There are reminders in many places in France of the life of Vincent de Paul.

• Vincentian Heritage Places provides details of some of these places.

Vincent and Louise were masters in fostering collaboration among groups that normally had little contact.

Former Superior General, Fr. Robert Maloney, CM often pointed out how the circle of poverty is increasing.

He reminded people that more than ever we need to expand the "circle of solidarity" and often invited us to be creative especially in reaching out to the young.

• Tradtional Ways of Expanding the Circle

• New Approaches

St. Vincent de Paul lived during the 17th century in France. His funeral drew thousands in Paris and the preacher said that he "just about changed the face of the Church and France". In the 300 years since his death he has inspired millions to walk in his footsteps in many different walks of life. Today there are well over two million people formally associated with what has become to be known as the Vincentian Family.

• More about Vincent
• Vincent and Formation in Faith

The Holy Spirit said: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2)

In Gen. 1:28, God tells the man and the woman to be fertile and multiply, and to fill the earth and subdue it. They have multiplied, as attested by the table of nations mentioned in Gen. 10, but they have yet to spread out across the world.

Full reflection: Pentecost Sunday, Year A

Reflections' Library