The Feast of the well known and loved St. Vincent de Paul occurs on Saturday, September 27th. He was Founder of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul as well as the Congregation of the Mission, or Vincentians, as they are known.
So what was the relationship with the Visitation Order? Very close and united.
Why?
St. Francis de Sales, Visitation’s Founder, was a good friend of St. Vincent de Paul.
“When the Order of the Visitation had just been established in Paris, Saint Francis de Sales, wishing to entrust the direction of his daughters to a priest endowed with all the qualities requisite for so important a ministry, chose Saint Vincent de Paul. He was then little known in Paris and filled no important charge; but the holy Bishop, with that discernment for which he was remarkable, had recognised him as that man of God, that director, whose portrait he had drawn in his Introduction to the Devout Life. Saint Vincent held this office till his death, that is to say, for forty years. Saint Chantal came from time to time to Paris and thus had opportunities of meeting him. She conversed intimately with him both about the affairs of her soul and of her institute. Since the death of Saint Francis de Sales she had given him her entire confidence, keeping up an uninterrupted correspondence with him, in which one must admire the mutual respect and the pious esteem those two great souls had for each other.”
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“St. Vincent presided over the monthly Chapter meetings at Visitation Monastery and consulted with the elected Mother Superior and her councilors. He conducted annual canonical visitations, meeting with each nun personally. He gave spiritual conferences, chose the monastery’s confessors, and presided over elections. Any extern (an individual not living in the monastery) needed his permission to enter the cloister. He also presided over special anniversary celebrations, and other community celebrations such as the reception of novices and the profession of solemn vows.
Vincent de Paul was deeply imbued with the spirit, traditions, and rule of our order and despite his many efforts to resign this responsibility as he grew older, and as his other activities and responsibilities increased, the sisters and successive archbishops of Paris would never consent. Vincent thus remained in this position of leadership until his death in 1660.”
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