The Shrine of Blessed Basil Moreau is privileged to be among the churches in Le Mans where the heart of Saint Vincent de Paul will be exposed for veneration by the faithful the weekend of December 16/17. Vespers will be prayed at the shrine in the presence of the relic Sunday, December 17, at 6:30pm. Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) devoted himself to the alleviation of the sufferings of the poor, and to that end established the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity.
Father Moreau, who regarded Saint Vincent de Paul as the model of priestly virtue, and was good friends with Frederic Ozanam, was among the first to establish a conference of Saint Vincent de Paul in an educational institution. The students of Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix (Our Lady of Holy Cross) collected funds for the work of the Le Mans conference of Saint Vincent de Paul and visited the homes of poor families. A statue of Saint Vincent de Paul, gift of the Marianites of Holy Cross, will be blessed this Sunday at the Shrine.
Saint Vincent de Paul, patron of all works of charity, pray for us!