In honor of the 400th anniversary of the Vincentian charism, Pope Francis invited the Vincentian family to a papal audience on Saturday October 14, 2017.
Our Superior General was present and was able to greet the Holy Father briefly on behalf of the Congregation. (Click on the image to see the encounter)
To celebrate 400 years of the Vincentian charism, we followed in the footsteps of our Holy Founders Saint Vincent de Paul and Madame de Pollalion. After a moving visit to Argenteuil to venerate the Holy Tunic of Christ, we climbed the hills of Taverny in order to pray to Madame de Pollalion. A small chapel is named in her honor: the Chapel of Ecce Homo. Our journey then led us to Folleville, the site of St Vincent de Paul’s first mission.
We asked the Virgin Mary for many graces at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Then, we prayed before St Vincent de Paul’s tomb. Finally, the highlight was gathering around the painting of St Vincent de Paul bestowing the Constitutions upon the foundresses of Union-Chrétienne in the presence of Queen Anne of Austria. The original painting is preserved in the Saint Marguerite Church in Paris. We spent quality time together filled with joy and many graces!
A few news from our pilgrimage in summer 2016 in south of France