Thursday 8Th September Marks the 163Rd Anniversary of the Death of Blessed Frederic Ozanam

Reflections on Blessed Frederic Ozanam. Thursday 8th September marks the 163rd anniversary of the death of Blessed Frederic Ozanam. Pope Francis in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium expresses his thoughts of the Mission of the Church, “I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security” Reflected in these words of the Pope is the Church which inspired Frederic Ozanam. It is a Church which redefines the signs of the times with a Gospel message which is practical, relational, engaging and responding in love.

In reflection on Frederic’s life I believe it can be summed up by the following theme ; “Grounded in Faith, Growing in Love, Living in Hope”. These thoughts express much of the life, work and legacy of Blessed Frederic Ozanam.

 Frederic was a man of faith. He understood the importance of his work within the guidance and nurturing of prayer and spiritual advice.

 Frederic was a man of love. His love for God and Church was strengthened because of his relationships with the poor, his confreres and his family.

 Frederic was a man of hope. He saw the importance of a legacy of justice and advocacy for the poor. Therefore, it is certainly fair to say that he developed and influenced some of the key principles of Social thought and reform in the Church and society today.

Blessed Frederic Ozanam’s vision was for a Church inspired by Gospel imperatives and a model of unconditional compassion and love for the poor.

This vision today is echoed in the words and actions of Pope Francis as he leads the church in living the joy of the Gospel. For Francis, as was for Frederic, to serve those experiencing poverty we must be led by the voice of those experiencing poverty. The Society must always see that the poor are at the heart of the decision- making, the heart of the agenda and that their voice is the one that speaks.

In this way the journey of the Society founded by Blessed Frederic will be “transforming (their) concern into action and (their) compassion into practical and effective love.” (Society’s The Rule #2.2)

In 1997 Pope John Paul II celebrated the beatification of Frederic Ozanam. At this time the pope stated; “Frederic Ozanam believed in love, the love of God for every individual. He felt himself called to love, giving the example of a great love for God and others. He went to all those who needed to be loved more than others, those to whom the love of God could not be revealed effectively except through the love of another person. There Ozanam discovered his vocation, the path to which Christ called him. He found his road to sanctity. And he followed it with determination.”

Finally Robert Fitzgerald AM in his 2013 Ozanam Lecture responded to the vexing question, “Would Frederic Ozanam join the St Vincent de Paul Society today?” He answered; “[T]o whether Frederic Ozanam would join the Society today is one that only each of you can respond to. For you are the Society, just as you are Church. As Ozanam lived, shaped by his tumultuous times, in politics, Church and the State he increasingly saw faith, justice and love as inseparable. He saw them as fundamental to the emergence of a relevant Church and a new society. He wrote of them often in his publication, The New Era. If you believe that faith, justice and love are central to your work as a Vincentian and if these are present in your works and Vincentian activities then surely he would join us. However if they are not present then surely the reverse must be so.”

May we as Directors of Amelie Housing pause for this moment to remember the life, love and legacy of Frederic Ozanam but may we also continue to respond to the question, “Would Frederic Ozanam join the St Vincent de Paul Society today? Or Would Frederic Ozanam support the works, actions and discernments of this Board and this Company?”

We pray that the love of God sustain and enrich us and may the visions of Frederic Ozanam continue to inspire and faithfully guide us in our pilgrim journey in doing the “good works” of God.