Deep gratitude, in a theological-spiritual sense, is the profound recognition that all good comes from God and that our lives are sustained by divine grace. It goes beyond a polite “thank you”; it is a humble response of the heart that acknowledges God’s presence working through other people. Deep gratitude is a form of prayer—it awakens reverence, deepens trust, and moves us to serve others out of love. It is not passive but active, often expressed in generosity, praise, and fidelity. At its core, deep gratitude is a way of living in constant awareness of God’s unconditional love.

On the great occasion celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation of the Mission (27 April – 3 May 2025), the confreres and visitors from around the world entering the inner lobby of the Mother House in Paris are greeted by two significant images. On either side of the entrance stand portraits of General Philippe-Emmanuel de Gondi and his wife, Madame Françoise Marguerite de Silly, known to history as the benefactors whose vision and generosity made the founding of the Congregation possible.

Also displayed is a reproduction of the historic contract signed in April 1625 by Vincent de Paul and General de Gondi, marking the formal beginning of what would become the Congregation of the Mission. This foundational document represents not only a legal agreement but also a profound commitment to the service of the poor and the evangelization of rural communities.

These images serve as a lasting tribute to the Gondi family’s vital role in the birth of the “Little Company.” To this day, members of the Congregation around the world remain deeply grateful to this couple. Their faith, generosity, and collaboration with St. Vincent continue to be remembered as a cornerstone in the history of the Vincentian mission and its enduring charism of charity and service.

In a conference given in 1648, St. Vincent de Paul referred to Madame de Gondi as “the first founder (fondatrice) of our community” (Coste III, 399). This pious and devout woman, known formally as Françoise Marguerite de Silly, was deeply committed to her faith and regularly attended Mass. She played a pivotal role in supporting and encouraging the early ministry of Vincent, particularly his mission to the poor and to neglected rural populations. Madame de Gondi came from a noble family and had three sons, one of whom later became the Archbishop of Paris, further linking her family to the spiritual and ecclesial fabric of 17th-century France.

In June 1625, the same year of the contract between de Gondi family and the Congregation of the Mission was officially founded, Madame de Gondi passed away. She was buried in the chapel of the Carmelite convent on Rue du Chapon, a location that reflects her deep spiritual devotion.

The little missionary community that Madame de Gondi helped inspire and support—initially formed under Vincent’s leadership—continued to grow. It eventually became known as the Congregation of the Mission (CM), which today serves on nearly every continent, continuing the legacy of charity and evangelization first made possible through her vision and generosity.

Who was this Madame de Gondi, to whom St. Vincent de Paul referred with such reverence? She was a devoted wife and mother, remembered in history as a deeply pious woman who lived in Paris during the early 17th century. Her husband, Count Philippe-Emmanuel de Gondi, hailed from Picardy, while Madame de Gondi—born Françoise Marguerite de Silly—had family ties to Folleville, a town that would later become significant in the early Vincentian mission.

Her holiness was expressed in her deep concern for the spiritual welfare of the rural poor who lived on the Gondi estates. In 1617, she offered 16,000 livres to support the establishment of parish missions, first approaching the Jesuits and then the Oratorians to undertake the task. Neither congregation was able to accept the mission at the time.

This unfulfilled hope eventually led her to encourage and support Vincent de Paul, who formally founded the Congregation of the Mission in 1625. Recognizing her foundational role, Vincent later called her the fondatrice of the Congregation, saying, “The first founder of our community was the pious Madame General.” Her generosity and vision were instrumental in giving birth to a missionary community that now serves throughout the world.

If Madame de Gondi is justly honored as the fondatrice—the founding benefactor—of the first community of priests who would later be known as the Congregation of the Mission (CM), one may ask: who was Vincent de Paul for the Congregation?

Vincent, by all accounts, was a man of deep humility. It is inconceivable that he would ever have claimed authorship or ownership over the mission he led. He never said, “I am the one who started this work.” Such words would not align with the humility and spiritual detachment that characterized his life and leadership.

The word fondatrice, as Vincent used it in reference to Madame de Gondi in 1648, acknowledges her unique and divinely inspired role. She was the noblewoman chosen by Providence to “ignite”—to offer the initial spark—for a work that God would bless and bring to life: the organized mission to the poor. In 1617, deeply concerned for the spiritual welfare of the rural poor on her estates, she offered a substantial donation of 16,000 livres to support the mission. After initial efforts to entrust this work to the Jesuits and the Oratorians were unsuccessful, her hope turned to Vincent de Paul.

Vincent’s vision and calling, sustained by the generosity and faith of Madame de Gondi, made possible the foundation of the Congregation of the Mission—a community dedicated to serving the poor and evangelizing neglected rural communities.

And so we return to Madame de Gondi and General de Gondi. Thank you—for it was through your spiritual concern for the rural poor and your willingness to act that the Congregation of the Mission (CM) was born. From that humble beginning, this “Little Company,” as Vincent de Paul called it, continues to serve the Church by proclaiming the Gospel and caring for those in need.

May we all remain attentive to God’s voice as it comes to us through the needs of the poor, ready to respond and become instruments of grace in our time.

F. Armada Riyanto, CM

• Pierre Coste, The Life and Works of St. Vincent de Paul, Vol. III, translated by Joseph Leonard, C.M. (New York: New City Press, 1987), p. 399.

• Luigi Mezzadri, C.M., Vincent de Paul: A Brief Biography, (Rome: CLAPVI, 1995), p. 38.

• José María Román, C.M., St. Vincent de Paul: A Biography, (London: Melisende, 1999), p. 201.

• Coste, Vol. III, p. 399.

• José María Román, C.M., St. Vincent de Paul: A Biography, trans. Joyce Howard (London: Melisende, 1999), 201–202.

• André Dodin, C.M., Vincent de Paul and Charity (New York: New City Press, 1993), 22–25.