Frederic Ozanam was born in Milan, Italy in 1813, and at age three, his family moved to Lyon, France.  When Frederic was seven years old, he nearly died of typhus.  Although his parents had already experienced the death of 8 of their children, their faith in God remained strong and they prayed that Frederic would be cured.  His recovery was seen as a miracle of grace.  Frederic's father was a doctor and he often saw his parents leave to care for the sick and dying in their community, even during the middle of the night.  Their example left a deep imprint on Frederic's mind and heart.  In his late teens, Frederic suffered a deep crisis of faith - questioning why he believed and facing despair and depression.  He prayed to the Holy Spirit, asking that he would receive the gift of faith and the grace to believe.  When the crisis of faith ended, Frederic promised to consecrate his life to the defense of the faith and the service of truth.

As a young man, Frederic attended the School of Law at the Sorbonne, University of Paris, which was filled with anti-Catholic and anti-Christian sentiment.  Frederic collaborated with Mr. Emmanuel Bailly, editor of the Tribune Catholique, in reviving a student organization which had been suspended during the revolutionary activity of July 1830.  They called their new association "The Conference of History."  The group met on Saturdays to discuss various topics, everything but politics.  At one meeting, Frederic and his friends were challenged about their faith by young student revolutionaries.  "Christianity is now outworn and defunct.  It may have been useful in the past, but what use is it today?  What has Christianity to offer?  Where are its works now?  Show us your works!"

Frederic called for a meeting of five of his friends; they agreed to meet at Mr. Bailly's office.  The date was April 23, 1833, Frederic's twentieth birthday.  Inspired by words, Frederic decided to found the "Conference of Charity" to assist the poor.  Emmanuel Bailly, the married layman, was chosen by the six students as their first President.  In a short time, they changed their name to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul after their patron.  Frederic chose St. Vincent de Paul as the patron saint of his new Society for he said, "Even the revolutionaries admired St. Vincent, they forgave him the crime of having loved God."  Frederic also had a true devotion to the Blessed Mother and regarded her as the Patroness of the Society.

Emmanuel Bailly directed Frederic and his friends to Sister Rosalie Rendu, a Daughter of Charity, to learn how to approach the poor.  (The Daughters of Charity was an order started in 1633 by St. Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac to minister to the poor in their surroundings.)  Sister Rosalie gave Frederic the names of families to visit in their homes and words of guidance, "Because you see Christ in His poor, I know you will approach each one you visit with humility as His servant.  But, always remember that if we had been through the hardships they have had to meet, if our childhood had been one of constant want, perhaps, we too, would have given way to envy and hatred, as I must admit have many of the poor in this quarter.  But, be kind and love, for love is your first gift to the poor.  They will appreciate your kindness and your love more than all else you can bring them."

The first members of the Society were determined not only to bring bread but, above all, friendship to the poor.  Frederic recalled the example of his parents - service must be motivated by love and assistance given to the poor must be given personally with sympathy, humility, compassion and respect.  At age 27, Frederic was named a professor at the Sorbonne - the youngest to be named to the post.  He and the other members continued to put their Catholic faith into action by visiting and assisting the impoverished and troubled.  As a sign of respect for the families Frederic visited, he wore his official garb including his top hat which signified his high status in the community.  When he entered a family's door, Frederic would doff his top hat, illustrating the Society's belief that all are children of God and deserve respect. 

Frederic spent many years discerning his vocation, believing it might be the priesthood but he came to realize that marriage was his vocation.  In 1841, Frederic married Amelie Soulacroix and in 1845 they had a daughter they named Marie.  He believed that the sacrament of marriage was a powerful means of holiness.  Frederic was a devoted husband and father and combined those responsibilities with his work in teaching, research, writing and various civic, social and religious commitments.  Ill health plagued Frederic all his life and on the feast day of the Birthday of the Blessed Mother on September 8,1853, he died at age 40.  Blessed Frederic Ozanam's feast day is September 9th. 

Frederic firmly believed that Divine Providence guided his life and the Society as it grew from a small conference to an organization spreading throughout the world - assisting God's children.  What began as a challenge to demonstrate the Catholic Church's response to the poor in 1833, has grown into an international organization of Catholic lay men and women.  It is established in more than 130 countries around the world and continues to work for charity and justice.  The motto of the Society is, "No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society." 

Information on the life of Frederic Ozanam is from Serving in Hope, Module 1 - Our Vincentian Vocation and the Manual of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States.