Vincentian Spirituality
Spirituality is the first objective of the Society. The primary role of the volunteers is not to pay the bills, furnish groceries or clothe someone; it is acting out their faith by providing loving and compassionate interest in individuals. If that interest calls for food, clothing or other assistance so be it. It is in loving others where the contact with Christ emerges. That contact with Christ is what separates the Society of St. Vincent de Paul from just another social agency. Although our objective is to bring love and peace, when we see our brother or sister suffering, we naturally want to help. So we collect food and raise funds in order to help and demonstrate the truth of the central message of Christianity to "love one another."
"One cannot avoid the social issues; precisely because they are formidable God does not want us to turn them aside. We must lay a bold hand on the core of poverty." - Frederic Ozanam
The September Spiritual Reflection
When Jesus saw the crowds he went up on the mountainside ... his disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them: "How blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs. Blest too are the sorrowing; they shall be consoled. Blest are the lowly; they shall inherit the land. Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill. Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs. Blest are the singlehearted, for they shall see God. Blest too the peacemakers; they shall be called children of God. .. "
Let us look at our own shortcomings and leave other people's alone; for those who live carefully ordered lives are apt to be shocked at everything and we might well learn very important lessons from the persons who shock us. Our outward comportment and behavior may be better than theirs, but this, though good, is not the most important thing; there is no reason why we should expect everyone else to travel by our own road, and we should attempt to point them to the spiritual path when perhaps we do not know what it is ...
It is better to attempt to ... live in silence and in hope, and [God] will take care of [God's] own.
Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle, p, 229, (3)
For Vincent and Teresa of Avila, love is always very concrete, very practical. It is love in practice. "Let us love God, my brothers and sisters," "let us love God, but let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brows." We are called to follow Christ as servants of the poor. Servants get their hands dirty. They labour long and hard. They engage in difficult tasks, visiting the sick and elderly in their homes, feeding street-people, serving the hungry, helping the widow and orphan. They are on the front lines ministering to the poor. As St. Vincent says, we must first do and then teach.
Reflection:
St. Vincent tells us that "Love is inventive to the point of infinity." Because you are on the front line in laboring for the poor, you will be among the first to know their real needs. It will not be psychologists or economists, who study the needs of the poor by examining the data they receive. You will know ahead of them because the poor will tell you directly. Be inventive in meeting those needs. (Maloney, Go! On the Missionary Spirituality of St. Vincent de Paul, p. 1334.)
QUIET TIME
In what ways can you become "inventive to infinity" in serving the needs of the poor that come to you?
INTERCESSIONS
O God, Vincent de Paul heard the cry of the poor and dedicated his life to their welfare;
- open our minds and hearts to those in need today
Vincent labored for a sound foundation for the clergy;
- let the spirit of wisdom guide all who minister in the church
He truly believed that no one can serve two masters;
- grant us a share in his single-hearted dedication to you.
You endowed Vincent with the gifts of wisdom, collaboration and courage;
- awaken leaders after your own heart in the church and in civic governments.
The seed you planted in France through Vincent has grown into a world community;
- continue to guide them in their work of justice and charity.
PRAYER:
O God, we praise you for the life of St. Vincent de Paul and the gift he continues to be for the church. He has been salvation for the poor and an inspiration to all who strive to live the call of the gospel. Bless all who work for the poor and may we be loving and non-judgmental in all we do. Amen.
