Our spirituality NT
"For when I was hungry you gave me food..."
Inspired by the compassion of Jesus Christ to all, this is the calling that unites all Vincentians who seek to be kind and deeply respectful to everyone they serve.
St Vincent de Paul Society Northern Territory Council is guided by the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia.
The role of a Council is to serve - not rule, to educate and to animate.
THE RULE and International Statutes that govern the operations and of the Confederation of the St Vincent de Paul Society were approved during the Rome Special General Meeting in October 2003. The members have the obligation to abide by THE RULE from the very first moment they belong to our world-wide community.
Discover more spiritual readings
The DePaul University site, known as “Via Sapientiae” has excellent resources including; Frederic Ozanam – A Life in Letters, Sr. Louise Sullivan’s biography of Sr. Rosalie Rendu, the complete eleven volume edition of St. Vincent de Paul’s writings and conferences.
These recourses have been digitized by DePaul University and is available at no cost. This is a great example of the kind of collaboration within the Vincentian Family that enriches us all.
Follow the links below to discover more.
Frederic Ozanam
Blessed Frederic Ozanam is very well known for his insight and wisdom. He would often share those valuable thoughts through personal letters to his family and friends. The best collection of these letters in English is found in “A Life in Letters,” edited by Fr. Joseph Dirvan. This collection was commissioned and published by the Society of St Vincent de Paul National Council of the United States in 1986. Although this collection does not contain letters from the last ten years of Ozanam’s life it is still the best collection available in English. In recent years the complete, scholarly collections of his letters has been published but are only available in French and Spanish. Hopefully someday an English edition can be arranged so that we may further appreciate the work and thought of the principal founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Sr. Rosalie Rendu
A Daughter of Charity on fire with love for the poor.
Rosalie Rendu was a Daughter of Charity who was a leading worker and organizer of care for the poor of 19th-century Paris' teeming slums, suffering from the rapid migration of people to the cities during the course of the Industrial Revolution. As well as assisting the poor in the streets and in their homes, Sister Rosalie showed great courage and leadership during the bloody uprisings that took place in France in 1830 and 1848. During the battles, Sister Rosalie would climb up on the barricades – risking her life – to help wounded soldiers, regardless of which side they were fighting on.
She was beatified by the Catholic Church for the holiness of her life.
Saint Vincent de Paul
The Society was named after Saint Vincent de Paul and follows his teachings and compassion for people in need. Saint Vincent de Paul is the international patron of the Society.
Vincent urged his followers to bring God’s justice and love to people who were unable to live a full human life:
“Deal with the most urgent needs. Organise charity so that it is more efficient…teach reading and writing, educate with the aim of giving each the means of self-support. Intervene with authorities to obtain reforms in structure… there is no charity without justice.”
Love and Politics: The Revolutionary Frederic Ozanam
Love and Politics was published in 2007. The Author John Honner explores Frederick Ozanam’s later life and in particular his involvement in the revolutionary politics of 1850.