A Spiritual Spiral • “Contributions” #10 #famvin400

by John Freund, CM | Dec 17, 2016 | Formation, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice

This is the tenth of a series of formation packages meant for individual or group study which was introduced in “The Contributions of the Vincentian Charism to the Mission of the Church: A Formation Journey.” In that article, we also suggested a “Lesson Plan” for use in groups.

In this brief and concluding section, Delgado notes a “… naturalness in moving from Christ to the poor and from the poor to Christ has been and continues to be a significant contribution of the Vincentian charism to the Church’s mission.”

He calls it a “circular movement,” but as a missionary’s encounter with the poor person has advanced with time — each time the person is encountered — it might be more aptly called a spiral. This conception allows for the growth of both persons, as Christ draws both to a deeper conversion.

Rich in metaphor, this brief section also offers a new name for each member of the Vincentian Family. We are “alternate spaces”:

“… spaces in which the poor can experience the joy of the gospel, spaces in which their wounds can be healed and spaces in which all people can live in accord with the Good News.”

Read this tenth section of Delgado’s important article cataloging this and other ways the Vincentian charism has contributed to the Church today.

Then, take some time to reflect on these question while viewing the slide presentation below:

- Are you conscious of the change in yourself and the change in the persons whom you are called to serve?
- Are you a “space” where a poor person experiences the healing Christ? Are poor persons that “space” for you as travel your own healing journey?