A blog post concerning Saint Vincent de Paul in Paris

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http://www.peter-pho2.com/2015/07/a-square-with-lot-of-history.html

Peter's Paris is a very informative blog on the French metropolis, much to be recommended.

 Today, 7 July 2015, the subject is the life and locations of
Saint Vincent de Paul and his Lazarist foundation.

Read on….

Vincent de Paul 

- 1581 to 1660 -

was nominated by cardinal duc de Richelieu to be responsible for the souls of the new inhabitants of his cité idéale who were from a part of France much affected by poverty and the bloody

'Wars of Religion' -  i.e. the Hugenot (protestant) / Catholic contests of Europe's 17th century.

He founded a Lazarist mission in the new town itself, no doubt modelled on his base in Paris, referred to in this fascinating post 'by a retired Swede'.

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Two aerial photos of the cité idéale from the west

Click on the photos for a MUCH bigger version.

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thanks to photographer 

Denis Caraire

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/60687590

and Panoramio & Google Earth

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...and here's an archive of photos of the town's connection with St. Vincent de Paul

http://stvincentimages.cdm.depaul.edu/Vincentian%20Places/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2FVincentian%20Places%2FFrance%2FRichelieu

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St Vincent de Paul

Éminentissime Armand-Jean du Plessis, cardinal duc de Richelieu, appointed his clerical chum, Vincent de Paul, to look after the christian souls of the new inhabitants of his Ideal Town, particularly while the community established itself. As cardinal, one might well think that he might take on this task himself but he no doubt thought that his Responsibilities of State would not allow him time for such provincial pastoral responsibilities.

The Wallace Collection 2 - S.V.P

S'il vous plait - if you please - Societé Vincent de Paul.

When the cardinal-duc founded our little town, he put the souls of the new inhabitants in the hands of his contemporary chum, Vincent de Paul 1581-1660, later canonised 'Saint' Vincent in 1737.  De Paul visited and stayed in the cité idéale in its early days, maybe to ensure the solidity of congregation in the agenda of the Counter-Reformation following the Council of Trent.  This part of France is quite close to the Vendée and the Charentes of La Rochelle,  fountain and battleground of Hugenot heresy.

The venerated ecclesiastic is still a strong influence in the Roman Church and the inspiration of many Vincent de Paul Societies, even a university in Chicago!

On visiting the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square London to look for famous works of French art, we spied this van of the London Branch of the S.V.P 'helping locally', 'turning concern into action'.

Well done big Vince!

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Vincent de Paul 1581 - 1660

Vincent de Paul, Roman Catholic saint, canonised in 1737 by Pope Clement XII, was appointed by Cardinal Richelieu to be the caretaker of the souls of the faithful his new town of Richelieu. De Paul took this appointment very seriously in the early years of the town's foundation, and several Charities were organised from the Church. Societies of Vincent de Paul exist today all around the world, and he remains a very active inspiration to many world-wide.