Today we are going to cover dear Frederick Ozanam, layman (1813-1853). He was a professional lawyer, a philosopher and an activist. I know "activist" has come to have a bad connotation is certain circles, but Frederick was a social activist in the best sense of the word, because though this "revert" wrote many books, charmed many with his eloquence, edified many with his precision, and helped establish the Conferences of Notre Dame (a Catholic school initiative) in France, he is perhaps best known for founding the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. In the spirit of Mother Teresa who would later say: "Don't wait for leaders: do it alone, person to person," he directly helped the poor, not in massive "welfare" ways, but just simple, immediate, respectful and faithful ways. Frederick founded it "to insure my faith by works of charity." That about says it.
As far as his conversion goes, he lost his faith in college, as so many do -- maybe not "lost it" so much as "questioned it." But he himself writes how he got out of it -- simple, really -- the friendship of an intelligent man. It works wonders.
"God gave me the grace to be born in the Faith. Later the confusion of an unbelieving world surrounded me. I knew all the horror of the doubts that torment the soul. It was then that the instructions of a priest and philosopher (Abbe Noirot) saved me. I believed thenceforth with an assured faith, and touched by so rare a goodness, I promised God to devote my life to the services of the truth which had given me peace."
He died of a fever at the early age of 40, and when the priest came to anoint him, telling him not to fear, he said, "Oh why should I fear God, whom I love so much?" This great soul died on September 8, 1853. Frederick Ozanam, pray for us.
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