The Legal Reestablishment of the Congregation of the Mission

Abstract

After more than two years of discussions between the Government and various priests representing former missionary communities Napoleon legally established an association of secular priests whose purpose was to staff the foreign missions of France. Did the decree he issued naming the Priests of the Mission mean the Congregation of the Mission founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1625? Were the Lazarists legally reestablished or did Napoleon create an entirely new Secular Congregation? It is maintained here that he reestablished the Congregation of the Mission. However, since a number of problems originated from the title of reestablishment because of the terminology used, it must be demonstrated here that Napoleon intended to and actually did reestablish the Congregation of the Mission of St. Vincent de Paul.