Pope Francis and St. Louise de Marillac: Models for A Synodal Church
Pope Francis and St. Louise de Marillac: Models for A Synodal Church
Pope Francis and St. Louise de Marillac: Models For a Synodal Church
Document of the II Convocation
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On May 9th, 2025, the Church invites us to celebrate the Feast of St. Louise de Marillac. We do so, this year, still very much aware of the life and holiness of Pope Francis who also chose to follow “a path of self-giving…a giving not measured…especially to the least among us.”[1] How quickly we realize a similar call to holiness between these two followers of Jesus who were asked “to tend my sheep”[2].
Perhaps, their common spirituality can best be described in their shared view of what it means to be church: “a church determined to take care of the problems of people, a church capable of bending low to every person and healing their wounds”[3]. Francis not only lived this definition of church by his example, but he also welcomed the transformation of the Spirit through the church’s synodal process of communion, participation, and mission. Louise, by her life, demonstrated that such a path is possible for ordinary people who wish to give of themselves to God and to others. In her collaboration with St. Vincent and The Congregation of the Mission, the Ladies of Charity, the Daughters of Charity and all those serving in the missions and in the confraternities, she gave evidence of the Spirit awakening the Church to new forms of communion, participation, and mission. Thus, both Francis and Louise are indeed Pilgrims of Hope who announce clearly that “human existence does not end in the tomb”[4]. Their lives continue to call all of us to “keep the fire burning”[5].
In this spirit, the Vincentian Family Office invites all of us to dig deeper into the document of the II Convocation of the Vincentian Family, Keeping the Fire Burning to Be Pilgrims of Hope. The following outline of some of the text may attract you to this Vincentian reflection as we consider our own call to “look with eyes open wide”[6] “to the signs of the times and to what the Holy Spirit is awakening in the church.”[7]
[1] Full text of the homily of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, given at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 26, 2025 provided by the Holy See Press Office.
[2] John 15:16
[3] Battista Re (n 1)
[4] Ibid
[5] Vincentian Family: II International Convocation Rome 2024 “Keeping the Fires Burning to Be Pilgrims of Hope”
[6] Ibid, Section 3
[7] Battista Re (n 1)
Introduction
- To ensure the resilience of solidarity in our growing individualistic and polarized society
- To discern where the Spirit is leading humanity, the Church, and our Vincentian Family
Section 1
- To speak with a more unified voice in the midst of the world and the church
- To keep our eyes and ears wide open to respond to the signs of the time
Section 2
- To promote collaboration in various initiatives and to expand the outreach of our common charism
- To be grounded in the gospel of justice
Section 3
- To transform humanity and our planet with the poor who are agents of their own liberation
- To promote and empower new leaders in our structures
Section 4
- To lead with innovative actions that revitalize our charism and tackle global challenges
- To enhance a culture of vocations
Section 5
- To keep the fire burning knowing that God’s providence will sustain us.
- To draw strength from Mary, the Model of Faith and the Mother of the Vincentian Family
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