Christian spirituality has, in the Word of God, an inexhaustible source of inspiration for charitable service to our brothers and sisters. Psalm 41(40), verses 2, 3 and 4, is an invitation to reflection and action, especially when it proclaims: “Blessed are those concerned for the poor; on a day of misfortune, the LORD will deliver them.”

This Psalm of David helps us to understand that true happiness lies in caring for the most vulnerable, offering not only material goods, but also the love of God, which transforms and changes people’s lives.

The next verses accompany this message with a deep wisdom: “The LORD keeps and preserves them, makes them blessed in the land, and does not betray them to their enemies” (verse 3). Here we find a divine promise: those who care for the needy will receive God’s grace in abundance. But who are the needy? They are people who lack the basics of life, such as food, shelter and clothing.

For those of us who belong to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP), this is a specific and daily mission that the Conferences carry out, especially in home visits and in welcoming those most in need, such as the elderly and infants. Going out to meet these people also means bringing them hope and consolation, which only come from the experience of the risen Christ.

Verse 4 says: “The LORD sustains them on their sickbed, you turn down their bedding whenever they are ill.” Here, God’s promise is extended to those who devote themselves to the poor, but it is important to make a distinction: the word “poor”, in this context, was adopted by the psalmist to designate people who, in spite of possessing material goods, live far from God, without an experience of faith and hope.

This kind of poverty is even more painful because it affects the soul and the meaning of life. As St. Theresa of Calcutta said: “The greatest poverty is the lack of Christ.” That is why it is crucial that our Vincentian activity should also be evangelizing, bringing the Word of God and strengthening the spiritual dimension of those whom we accompany.

The Vincentian journey, inspired by Psalm 41, challenges us to find a balance between material assistance and spiritual and moral help. As St. Vincent de Paul teaches us, “the poor are our lords and masters.” By serving both the needy and the poor in spirit, we become true instruments of divine grace. This perspective reminds us that our mission is not only to alleviate immediate suffering, but also to lead people to encounter the Savior, who is the source of eternal life and happiness.

As the Psalm clearly shows, God has a special regard for those who help those in need: “The LORD keeps and preserves them,” “he does not betray them to their enemies,” and “The LORD sustains them on their sickbed.” By adopting this Psalm as the motto of our service in our mandate at the head of the Central Council Divine Holy Spirit of Asa Norte (Brasília-DF) of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which begins on February 2, 2025, the commitment of the Conferences to the service of the needy and the evangelization of the poor is reinforced.

This motto will guide the actions of the Central Council in the next four years, reminding everyone that true happiness is in giving oneself to our neighbor, seeking to help him without measure, without conditions and without limits, never forgetting that the greatest poverty is the lack of God in the hearts of men. May we be instruments of his providence, bringing material and spiritual dignity to those who need it most, serving as “pilgrims of hope.”

Brother Renato Lima de Oliveira,
16th International President General of the SSVP between 2016 and 2023.