“Faith, Charity, Justice and Civic Learning:  The Lessons & Legacy of Frederic Ozanam,”        Raymond Sickinger, PH.D.; Vincentian Heritage, vol. 30, #1, 2010, p. 85, 87.

“Frederic Ozanam’s view of the nature and value of charity was radically different from that of … many of his contemporaries….  For him true charity was an essential step toward the regeneration of society, not a step toward bringing the individual into conformity with it.  In a letter written in November of 1836, Ozanam asserted that the poor are not in the least inferior.  In fact, in confronting poor people, “we should fall at their feet and say…. You are our masters, and we will be your servants.  You are for us the sacred images of that God whom we do not see, and not knowing how to love Him otherwise shall we not love Him in your persons?....

“Especially for young people, Ozanam argued, charity constituted an active form of service that leads over time to greater engagement in the struggle for social change.  At the age of 21 he wrote to his friend and distant cousin, Ernest Falconnet:  “But… we are too young to intervene in the social struggle.  Should we remain inactive therefore in the midst of a suffering and groaning world?  No, there is a preparatory path open to us; before taking action for the public good, we can take action for the good of individuals; before regenerating France, we can solace poor persons.”  He does not, however, conceive of this service experience as  a haphazard undertaking by merely a few:  “I would further wish that all young people might unite in head and heart in some charitable work and that there be formed throughout the whole country a vast generous association for the relief of the common people.”  Ozanam envisioned France’s transformation through engaging young university students in active service for the common good.

1)     Do you agree that our country is in need of social change?

2)     What would a preparatory path of taking care of individual persons who are poor do to lead the next generation to transform society?

3)     What concretely can you do to get young people involved in the work of the Society?