Pope Francis, Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac and Frederic Ozanam: Kindred Spirits
What:
In 17th century France, Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac established a lay association and two religious congregations to minister on behalf of marginalized, abandoned and forgotten men and women. In the 19th century, Frederic Ozanam founded a lay association to minister to that same segment of the population, that is, the poor and the outcasts of society.
A member of the Congregation of the Mission in Spain, Santiago Barquin, CM, published a series of articles in Anales, entitled “Vincentian Elements in Evangelii Gaudium.” In those articles Father Barquin reveals, in great detail, how the teachings of this 21st century apostle, Pope Francis, and the teachings of our Founders coincide with one another. As many of you are aware, this Apostolic Exhortation has often been referenced as the Pope’s pastoral plan for the Church.
During the coming year I hope to explore with you and to further develop some of the themes that Father Barquin highlights in his extensive work … I am entitling this series: Pope Francis, Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac and Frederic Ozanam: kindred spirits
How:
I hope to engage you, the readers of Famvin, in dialogue and conversation. As I write those words, I realize that I have already given myself a great challenge. In other words, if I hope to engage you in dialogue, then I have to make the content of these articles interesting and challenging and thought provoking so that you will interact with one another and also with me.
I also hope to move you from your “comfort zone” so that you yourself will take to writing and responding to the issues that I present.
Ultimately, I hope that together we can look at the present reality and come to a greater appreciation and understanding of our charism and the manner in which the exercise of that charism enhances the evangelization mission of the Vincentian Family and the universal church. So … will you join me on this adventurous journey?
When:
This series is scheduled to begin during the week of March 8th and will be published every other week. I have decided on this timeline because it will give me some time to reflect on your, the readers, comments as I prepare the next installment.
An initial thought:
In the first paragraph of his Apostolic Exhortation, Pope Francis states: I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by joy.
- How do we evangelize with joy as we must minister to and with the many victims of the Corona Virus?
- How do we evangelize with joy as so many of our brothers and sisters who are fleeing the violence in their homeland are denied entrance into our countries? How do we evangelize with joy when more and more political leaders around the world are enacting laws of exclusion?
- How do we evangelize with joy when so many of our brothers and sisters lack the basic necessities for a dignified life? Does it appear that on so many different occasions, that God has abandoned us and forgotten about us?
The world’s problems are not too much for Christ. Jesus, never said that problems would not come our way, like those listed. He said that, He has overcome the world. As Vincentians, we should continue to pray in the mist of our situation, and Christ would do exactly what He has said. We need to also have deep faith, in the situation we find ourselves in. Christ is in control, and would show us how to achieve our goals.
“We should continue to pray in the midst of our situation” … But how should we pray? Jesus challenges our attitudes, our way of living and ministering … and invites us to act anew and to do things differently. Recently the Vincentian Family has adopted a systemic approach to its ministry … if we view prayer as an integral element in our ministry, then, can we pray from a systemic change approach … and what does that mean?
— the author