THE NAME : DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY

“It was neither mademoiselle Le Gras nor Fr.Portail nor I, Who called you DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY. Notice that it was the people who,seeing what you are doing and the service our first sisters rendered to the poor, have given you this name which had been kept as most fitting for your way of life[St. Vincent De Paul,Marrch 4th,1678] “

IDENTITY

THE IDENTITY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY IS GIVEN TO GOD IN COMMUNITY FOR THE SERVICE OF THE POOR WITH THE SPIRIT OF HUMILITY SIMPLICITY AND CHARITY
Daughters of charity are not religious but girls that came and go like seculars [Feb 7, 1660] having for
MONASTERY – A rented room
CHAPEL- The Parish Church
CLOISTER – The Streets of the city or the wards or the hospitals
ENCLOSURE – Holy obedience
GRILL – The fear of God
VEIL – Holy Modesty and having no other
PROFESSION – than trust in Divine providence to ensure their vocation and the offering they make of all that they are and all that they have and their service to the poor

THE RULE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY IS CHRIST

  • Adorer of the Father
  • servant of his loving plans
  • Evangeliser of the poor

SPIRITUALITY : CENTERED IN CHRIST

The spirituality of the daughters of charity is lived in a life of service”Contemplate in christ the disposilions that will draw them close to the most deprived and endeavour to make those dispositions part of their own lives, learning from the son of man how to reveal God’s love for the world.”[constitution]

The Spirituality of the Daughters of charity lived in a life of service Daughters of charity serve christ corporally and spiritually in the person of the poor “one same love inspires and directs their contemplation and service:through faith they know that God awaits them in those who suffer “Ten times you go to the poor,ten times you meet god there”[St.Vincent De Paul]They Contemplate christ in the self emptying of his Redemptive incarnation and they marvel that “God somehow be unable or unwilling to be seperated from man”[st Louise] “whatever you do to the least of my brothers & Sisters you do unto me”[Mathew 25:40]