The Beginning of the Congregation of the Mission: Historical Sketch and Attempt of Actualization
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35312/djf0y110Keywords:
the Congregation of the Mission, Identity, Mission Contract, Vincent de PaulAbstract
This article explores the origins of the Congregation of the Mission not as a static historical fact but as a dynamic, Spirit-led journey rooted in faith and discernment. Emphasizing that the foundation was God’s initiative—not a human project—St. Vincent de Paul saw the Mission as a response to grace, shaped over time through personal and pastoral experiences. The long preparation included Vincent’s encounters with Cardinal Bérulle, Madame de Gondi, and St. Francis de Sales, which progressively deepened his priestly identity and missionary calling. Key events like the missions in Folleville and Châtillon, and his ministry to the poor, marked a shift from clerical ambition to evangelical charity. The formal establishment came in 1625 through the generous support of Madame de Gondi, culminating in a foundation contract that defined the mission: to evangelize the rural poor freely and itinerantly. This founding spirit remains a living source of inspiration for Vincentian identity and mission today.
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