Frédéric Ozanam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedAntoine-Frédéric Ozanam |
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| Born | 23 April 1813 Milan, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 8 September 1853 (aged 40) Marseilles, France |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 22 August 1997, Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | 9 September |
Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam (pronounced: [ɑ̃twan fʁedeʁik ozanam]; born April 23, 1813 – died September 8, 1853) was a French writer, lawyer, and journalist. He was also a strong supporter of equal rights. He is best known for starting the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul with his friends. This group helps people in need. He was declared "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II in 1997. His special day is September 9.
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Frédéric Ozanam's Early Life
Frédéric Ozanam was born on April 23, 1813. His parents were Jean and Marie Ozanam. He was one of 14 children, but only three lived to be adults. His family had lived in the Lyon, France, area for many centuries. One of his ancestors, Jacques Ozanam, was a famous mathematician. Frédéric's father, Jean, had been a soldier. Later, he worked in trade, teaching, and finally as a doctor.
Ozanam was born in Milan, Italy, but grew up in Lyon, France. When he was young, he had some doubts about his Catholic faith. A teacher named Joseph-Mathias Noirot helped him through this time. Frédéric's strong religious feelings showed early on. In 1831, he wrote a pamphlet against a philosophy called Saint-Simonianism. This writing caught the attention of a French poet, Alphonse de Lamartine.
Ozanam also helped with the Association for the Propagation of the Faith. This group supported Catholic missionaries. In the autumn of 1831, he moved to Paris to study law. He missed his home very much. In Paris, he became friends with the Ampère family. Through them, he met other important Catholic thinkers like Count François-René de Chateaubriand.
Starting the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
While still a student, Ozanam became a journalist. He wrote for a Catholic newspaper called Tribune catholique. This paper later became L'Univers. Ozanam and his friends started a discussion group. It was called the "Conference of History." Students had lively debates there. They often talked about how the Christian faith could help society.
During one debate, Ozanam and his friends were trying to show that the Catholic Church was still good. Their opponents challenged them. They said, "What is your church doing now? What is She doing for the poor of Paris? Show us your works and we will believe you!"
Because of this challenge, Ozanam and his friends decided to take action. In May 1833, they founded the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. This group was created to help the poor. By the time Ozanam died, the Society had over 2,000 members.
The founding members learned how to help others from Sister Rosalie Rendu. She was a nun who worked with the poor in Paris slums. The Society members worked with Sister Rendu during a cholera outbreak. She organized them to care for sick people in Paris. Frédéric's first act of charity was giving his firewood to a widow whose husband died of cholera.
Education and Career
Ozanam earned his law degrees in 1834 and 1836. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1835. His father wanted him to study law. After his father died in 1837, Frédéric worked as a lawyer to support his mother. He became a lawyer in Lyon in 1837.
In 1835, Ozanam convinced the Archbishop of Paris to invite Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire to give special talks. These talks were for young Christians at Notre-Dame Cathedral. Lacordaire's first talk was on March 8, 1835. It was very popular. These talks became an annual tradition in Paris.
Ozanam also followed his love for literature. In 1839, he earned a Doctor of Letters degree. His thesis was about the famous writer Dante. This work became the basis for some of his best-known books. A year later, he became a professor of commercial law in Lyon. In 1840, at age 27, he became an assistant professor of foreign literature at the Sorbonne.
He decided to teach about German literature from the Middle Ages. He traveled to Germany to prepare for his lectures. His classes were very successful. He believed that Christianity was very important for the growth of European civilization. This was different from many other professors at the time.
Family Life and Later Work
In June 1841, Frédéric married Amélie Soulacroix. She was the daughter of the head of the University of Lyon. They went to Italy for their honeymoon. They had one daughter named Marie.
Ozanam was a man of great faith. He valued his friends and was very loyal to them. He was also very caring with his family. He respected his parents deeply. He was even willing to change his career plans to make them happy.
In 1844, Ozanam became a full professor of foreign literature at the Sorbonne. The rest of his life was very busy. He taught, wrote many books, and continued his work with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
During the French Revolution of 1848, he briefly worked as a journalist again. He wrote for a newspaper he helped start called Ère nouvelle ("New Era"). He traveled a lot, even visiting England in 1851.
Death
Frédéric Ozanam had a weak body. He became sick with tuberculosis. He hoped to get better by visiting Italy. But when he returned to France, he died in Marseille on September 8, 1853. He was only 40 years old. He is buried in Paris.
Ozanam's Important Ideas
Ozanam is seen as someone who helped shape the Catholic Church's ideas about social justice. He believed the Church should adapt to new political times after the French Revolution. He thought the Church should work for liberty. He was sometimes criticized for these ideas.
In his writings, he showed how important Christianity was in history. He argued that the Catholic Church helped civilize people and organize life in the Middle Ages. He wanted to show that the Church had helped human minds, not held them back. He knew a lot about medieval literature and life. His scholarly work is still highly respected today.
His collected works were published in eleven volumes. They include:
- History of Civilization in the Fifth Century (translated into English in 1868)
- Some of his letters were translated into English in 1886.
Ozanam's Legacy
Many places and organizations are named after Frédéric Ozanam:
- Ozanam House, Ipswich, a historic house in Ipswich, Australia.
- Ozanam House, Sydney, a historic building in Sydney, Australia.
- Ozanam House, Agidingbi, a historic building in Agidingbi, Nigeria.
- Ozanam Hall, Chicago, a student residence hall at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
- Ozanam Inn, New Orleans, Louisiana, a shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
- Ozanam Building, Adamson University, Manila, Philippines.
- Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy, Inc., Mobile, Alabama, which gives free medicine to people in need.
Veneration
Ozanam's spiritual writings were approved by religious experts in 1949. A process began to declare him a saint. He was given the title Servant of God. Frédéric Ozanam was declared "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II in 1997.
Images for kids
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Frédéric Ozanam, 1852
See also
In Spanish: Frédéric Ozanam para niños
