Reflection:

1. In St Louise’s times, only the poor went to hospitals. The rich had the doctors living with them, or called them to their homes to be attended to. It was not uncommon that two or more patients were accommodated in each hospital bed; and there was even some sick lying on the ground, waiting for someone to die to take his place in the bed.
2. Hence, those who considered themselves wealthy, even though they had fallen into poverty (poor vergonzantes), considered it a shame to go to the hospital. St. Louise is aware of them and, in the previous letter, advises the Sister that they take care of them with dignity.
3. Nowadays, modern life is lived in the cities. The human avalanche from the countryside to the city seems unstoppable, because industry, administrative services, health and social services are in the city. And those who live in villages, continually have to go to the city. This situation can become a problem of accommodation or a problem of knowing how to act, which must attend the branches of the Vincentian Family.
4. The great discovery of Saint Vincent, Saint Louise and Blessed Ozanam was to discover that we should not wait for the poor to knock on our doors, but we must go and look for them wherever they are, in the villages, in certain areas of the city and even in the solitude of houses of those we consider rich. Throughout the year 2017 you have to go look for them! That is why —Saint Louise comes to say— that the Volunteers (AIC) and the Vincentians are as necessary today as the Vincentian priests and the Daughters of Charity.
5. But we must go and look for them with a tolerant and enduring heart, for there may be demanding poor people; with sincerity, without deceit, so that the needy discover in us no other intentions than compassionate love; and with all the heart full of affection.