Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, Saint of the day for 7 September

(23 April 1813 - 8 September 1853)

The story of blessed Frédéric Ozanam
A man convinced of the inestimable value of every human being, Frédéric served the poor of Paris well and led others to serve the poor of the world. Through the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, which he founded, his work continues to the present day.

Frédéric was the fifth of Jean and Marie Ozanam's 14 children, one of only three to reach adulthood. As a teenager he began to have doubts about his religion. Reading and praying didn't seem to help, but long discussions with Father Noirot of Lyons College made things very clear.

Frédéric wanted to study literature, even though his father, a doctor, wanted him to become a lawyer. Frédéric yielded to his father's wishes and in 1831 arrived in Paris to study law at the Sorbonne University. When some professors mocked Catholic teachings in their lectures, Frédéric defended the Church.

A discussion club organized by Frédéric started the turning point in his life. In this club, Catholics, atheists and agnostics discussed the issues of the day. Once, after Frédéric spoke about the role of Christianity in civilization, a member of the club said: “Let's be frank, Mr. Ozanam; we are also very particular. What do you do besides speaking to prove the faith you claim to be in you? "

Frédéric was struck by the question. He soon decided that his words needed a grounding in action. He and a friend began visiting public housing in Paris and offering assistance as best they could. Soon a group was formed around Frédéric dedicated to helping people in need under the patronage of Saint Vincent de Paul.

Believing that the Catholic faith needed an excellent speaker to explain its teachings, Frédéric convinced the archbishop of Paris to appoint his Dominican father Jean-Baptiste Lacordaire, the greatest preacher then in France, to preach a Lenten series in the cathedral of Notre Dame. It was very popular and became an annual tradition in Paris.

After Frédéric graduated in law from the Sorbonne, he taught law at the University of Lyon. He also holds a doctorate in literature. Shortly after marrying Amelie Soulacroix on June 23, 1841, he returned to the Sorbonne to teach literature. A respected teacher, Frédéric has worked to bring out the best in every student. Meanwhile, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society was growing throughout Europe. Paris alone had 25 conferences.

In 1846 Frédéric, Amelie and their daughter Marie went to Italy; there he hoped to restore his ill health. They returned the following year. The revolution of 1848 left many Parisians in need of the services of the conferences of Saint Vincent de Paul. There were 275.000 unemployed. The government asked Frédéric and his collaborators to oversee government aid to the poor. Vincentians from all over Europe came to the aid of Paris.

Frédéric then started a newspaper, The New Era, dedicated to ensuring justice for the poor and the working classes. The Catholic comrades were often unhappy with what Frédéric wrote. Referring to the poor as "the priest of the nation", Frédéric said that the hunger and sweat of the poor constituted a sacrifice that could redeem the humanity of the people.

In 1852, poor health again forced Frédéric to return to Italy with his wife and daughter. He died on 8 September 1853. In his sermon at Frédéric's funeral, Fr. Lacordaire described his friend as "one of those privileged creatures who came directly from the hand of God where God combines tenderness with genius to set the world on fire".

Frédéric was beatified in 1997. Since Frédéric wrote an excellent book entitled Franciscan Poets of the Thirteenth Century, and because his sense of the dignity of each poor was so close to the thought of St. Francis, it seemed appropriate to include him among the “great Franciscans. "His liturgical feast is September 9.

Reflection
Frédéric Ozanam always respected the poor by offering all the service he could. Every man, woman and child was too precious to live in poverty. Serving the Poor taught Frédéric something about God that he could not have learned elsewhere.