A Brief Look into the Story of the Company of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
“Who would ever have thought that there would be Daughters of Charity… I did not think of it… God thought of it for you”
(St. Vincent de Paul. 14 June 1643.)
Deeply “conscious of the material and spiritual misery” in 17th century France, St. Vincent de Paul “devoted his life to the service and evangelization of poor persons,” whom he called “our Lords and Masters.” In God’s providence, his compassion and vision gave rise to enduring works: the Confraternities of Charity (1617), the Congregation of the Mission (1625), and, together with St. Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity (1633).
In 1617, Vincent founded the Confraternities of Charity (later known as the Ladies of Charity) after he witnessed a family in Châtillon les Dombes suffering without care. Moved by their plight, he gathered local women into a committed group dedicated to providing regular assistance to the sick poor. At first, these women gladly assisted in visiting the sick and poor, bringing food and supplies to their homes. Yet, as time went on, many found it easier to send their servants to carry out the actual nursing and household visits, while they themselves remained at a distance.
Recognizing the need for more consistent and hands-on service, Vincent began recruiting young women from rural villages. Accustomed to hard work and simplicity, these village girls were motivated by love of neighbor and trust in God’s providence. Among them was Marguerite Naseau of Suresnes, “a simple young woman from the country,” remembered as the first Daughter of Charity. “She presented herself to perform the menial tasks which the ladies of the confraternities were unable to assume.” She offered her life in service of the poor and later died of the plague after giving her bed to a sick woman—her sacrifice a shining witness to the spirit of charity that would define the Company. “Her example was contagious… It was in this way that, imperceptibly, in the manner of things divine, the Company of the Daughters of Charity was born.” (DC Constitutions, page 18.)
Realizing that these young women would need both religious and practical formation, Vincent turned to his trusted collaborator, St. Louise de Marillac. On 29 November 1633, Louise welcomed four peasant girls into her modest home in Paris and began to shape them into true servants of the poor—the first Daughters of Charity. This was something entirely new in the life of the Church. Until then, to be a religious woman meant to live cloistered. But these Sisters would not be enclosed; their cloister would be the streets of the city, the hospitals, and the homes of the poor.
“And that, Sisters, was the beginning of your Company. As it was not then what it is now, there is reason to believe that it is still not what it will be when God has perfected it as He wants it.”
(St. Vincent de Paul. 13 February 1646)
The Daughters distinguished themselves not only by the absence of cloister but also by their vows. They bound themselves to God by simple vows, renewed annually rather than perpetually, allowing them freedom to serve wherever needed. They wore the plain peasant dress of the day, blending into the world they served. Vincent described their life in striking words:
“As monastery, the houses of the sick; as cell, a rented room; as a chapel, the parish church; for cloister, the streets of the city; as enclosure, obedience; as grill, the fear of God; and for veil, holy modesty.”
(St. Vincent. 24 August 1659.)
The Daughters of Charity went out into the streets of Paris, “nursing the sick poor in their homes, in the town and villages. As needs became known, they cared for the sick in hospitals, little girls in need of instruction, orphans, galley convicts, wounded soldiers, refugees, older persons, and those with mental health conditions—all were embraced in their mission of organized, tender charity.
From these humble beginnings, a missionary spirit soon emerged. One of the earliest foundations was a hospital in Poland, marking the first step in their journey toward becoming a worldwide community. Today, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul serve in 97 countries, with around 11,000 Sisters continuing their mission of organized, tender charity for persons who are poor.
True to their motto, “The Charity of Jesus Christ crucified urges us,” the Daughters of Charity reach out to those most in need with respect and devotion. Vincent reminded them:
“You will find out that Charity is a heavy burden to carry...It is not enough to give soup and bread. This the rich can do. You are the servant of the poor, always smiling and good-humored… And the uglier and the dirtier they will be, the more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is only for your love alone that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them.”
St. Vincent de Paul
The spirit of the Company consists of three things: humility, simplicity, and charity. St. Vincent said that as long as this spirit “exists among the Sisters, it may be said that the Company of Charity is still alive.” (January 1659)
The friendship of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac has given the world a lasting legacy of charity, one that has touched countless lives across the centuries. Their keen insight into human needs, their profound respect for the dignity of each person, and their extraordinary gift for organization have shaped the Church’s service and transformed Catholic charitable practice across the world.
Rooted in the charism of their Founders, the Daughters of Charity continue to seek Christ in the persons of those who are poor. They strive to live a life of joyful service, rooted in union with God through prayer and contemplation, sustained by filial devotion to the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, and strengthened by the support of Community. In this way, they bring the message of God’s love to those in need, showing that charity is not only an act of service but a way of encountering Christ Himself.
