It is neither philosophy nor theology, nor speeches which move souls; Jesus Christ Himself must be mingled with us, and we with Him. We must work in Him and He is us, we must speak like Him and in His spirit, just as He was in His Father, and preached the doctrine which the Father taught Him, the language of Holy Scripture. We have to empty ourselves of ourselves, and put on Jesus Christ.

Saint Vincent de Paul (1576-1660)
Priest, chaplain general of the galleys, founder of the Vincentians, the Ladies of Charity, works for abandoned children, and the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity

“His gentleness and humility contrasted with the roughness and pride of his time, just as his natural eloquence stood in opposition to the erudite verbosity of humanism steeped in erudition with the vigor of a Cézanne, whose bold style was such a strong contrast to the Art Nouveau of the World’s Fair. He certainly wasn’t contrary on purpose, but the fact remains that he ruffled feathers; at a time when French society believed more than ever in the eternal and deep divide between people of different social classes, he sent the beautiful ladies of the aristocracy to fray their frills on the rough floors of slums and hospitals.”

André Frossard (1915-1995)
Writer