Frédéric Ozanam was born in 1813 and died in 1853.

Living in Paris, not long after the French Revolution, he saw great poverty among his fellow Parisians.

One day, walking home after having attended Holy Mass, he went into the baker’s shop and bought bread. He then took it to some people he knew might be in need of it. That day was the beginning of something great. Spurred on by the reaction he received from the people he visited he made it his practice to visit the baker’s shop every day after Mass.

Soon, other men joined him, and they formed what they called a Conference of History. It was designed to be a place where people would be free to discuss their Catholic Faith and learn to defend it. They realised that the way to do this was to help people in need.

They took as their patron saint, St Vincent de Paul, and so they came to be known as the Society of St Vincent de Paul. It was a very small start. And it showed how great things can grow from small acts of kindness.