OUR NAMESAKE

The Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy is named for Frederic  Ozanam, founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  Frederic was born in Milan, Italy on April 23, 1813. 

Having grown up in a deeply religious family, Frederic and some of his like-minded University friends joined the Society of Good Studies, a group of people who gathered regularly for intellectual and spiritual discussion.  Although the group was originally composed of Catholics, the meetings were opened to any student interested in serious dialogue on the teaching of the gospels.  

During one of the society meetings, Frederic and his friends were trying to prove that the Catholic Church faithfully embodied the Christian Gospel.  A student responded,  “We agree that at one time your church was a great church and was a great source of good.  But what is it doing now?  What is she doing for the poor of Paris?  Show us your works and we will believe you!” 

Frederic and his friends discussed the events of the evening and agreed that  their opponents had a point. They agreed to begin visiting the poor and devote their time and energy to practical works of charity.  The first meeting of what later became known as the St. Vincent de Paul Society was held in April of 1833. 

Frederic became a doctor of law and literature.  Besides his duties with the university and with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, he was in constant demand as a speaker.  In 1846 he suffered a near-fatal illness that required a year’s rest from the university.  He later returned to his position but again suffered a relapse in 1852. 

Frederic died September 8, 1853.  His tomb, located in Paris, has become a place of pilgrimage for Vincentians and others who have a vocation to serve the poor.  The Catholic Church beatified Frederic Ozanam and is in the last phases of its investigation to add Frederic Ozanam to the canon of saints.

OUR LOCAL HISTORY