The Foundation of the Congregation
On December 25, 1918, the Congregation of the Sons of Charity was born, with the authorization of Pope Benedict XV and of the Cardinal of Paris. Pope Benedict XV was considered a “co-founder” of the congregation because it was he who advised Fr. Anizan to found a new congregation and gave the name “Sons of Charity.” With this development, Fr. Anizan felt vindicated on false charges hurled against him that lead to his deposition.
On June 1, 1919, some twenty priests and brothers, who were Anizan’s former companions who also left the Brothers of St. Vincent de Paul, began their novitiate. And on June 1, 1920, there were eighteen new Sons of Charity who made their first profession together with Fr. Anizan. The second novitiate followed and ultimately had their profession on June 11, 1922
On December 8, 1925, Fr. Anizan published a circular letter entitled “Our Triple Ideal,” which outlined the vocation of the Sons of Charity – that is, call to holiness, apostolic fruitfulness and evangelization of the poor and the workers through Charity In 1926, Anizan fell ill and began to suffer from neuritis, a very painful illness that inflames the nervous system. Still with great internal vigor, he took part in co-founding the women’s Religious congregation of the Auxiliaries of Charity on October 16, 1926 In the rectory of Good Shepherd Parish on Charonne Street, in peace, in spite of much suffering, Fr, Anizan joined his Master and Creator in the early morning of May 1, 1928, at the age of 75.
At the end of the last century the Sons of Charity was present in Europe, South and North America and Africa in twelve countries so after consulting different “Authorities” in Rome, the congregation decided to go to the Philippines in order to offer the charism of the congregation to the Asian world.
On December 25, 1918, the Congregation of the Sons of Charity was born, with the authorization of Pope Benedict XV and of the Cardinal of Paris. Pope Benedict XV was considered a “co-founder” of the congregation because it was he who advised Fr. Anizan to found a new congregation and gave the name “Sons of Charity.” With this development, Fr. Anizan felt vindicated on false charges hurled against him that lead to his deposition.
On June 1, 1919, some twenty priests and brothers, who were Anizan’s former companions who also left the Brothers of St. Vincent de Paul, began their novitiate. And on June 1, 1920, there were eighteen new Sons of Charity who made their first profession together with Fr. Anizan. The second novitiate followed and ultimately had their profession on June 11, 1922
On December 8, 1925, Fr. Anizan published a circular letter entitled “Our Triple Ideal,” which outlined the vocation of the Sons of Charity – that is, call to holiness, apostolic fruitfulness and evangelization of the poor and the workers through Charity In 1926, Anizan fell ill and began to suffer from neuritis, a very painful illness that inflames the nervous system. Still with great internal vigor, he took part in co-founding the women’s Religious congregation of the Auxiliaries of Charity on October 16, 1926 In the rectory of Good Shepherd Parish on Charonne Street, in peace, in spite of much suffering, Fr, Anizan joined his Master and Creator in the early morning of May 1, 1928, at the age of 75.
At the end of the last century the Sons of Charity was present in Europe, South and North America and Africa in twelve countries so after consulting different “Authorities” in Rome, the congregation decided to go to the Philippines in order to offer the charism of the congregation to the Asian world.