The world has changed drastically since the 19th century, when Frédéric Ozanam, inspired by the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul, founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP). Yet the essence of service to the poor remains the same: a call to charity, moved by Gospel love for one’s neighbor. The forms of poverty, however, have become more complex, harder to recognize, and often invisible to those who live in comfort. Faced with these “new poverties,” how can we continue to serve in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul, remembering also the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”?

New Forms of Poverty: Complexity and Invisibility

Material poverty is still present and challenging, but today we are constantly confronted with subtler forms of suffering. The loneliness of forgotten elderly people, the social isolation caused by technology, the emotional neglect of youth and children, and the psychological instability born from an increasingly competitive and unequal world are clear examples of the new poverties emerging in our society.

These realities require an attentive and compassionate gaze, one that looks beyond material deprivation and perceives the emotional, cultural, and spiritual wounds that cause as much pain as the lack of food or shelter. As Pope Francis teaches in Evangelii Gaudium, “the poor have much to teach us. Besides participating in the sensus fidei, through their own sufferings they know the suffering Christ, they allow themselves to be evangelized by him and they evangelize us all.”

Intelligent and Creative Charity: The Legacy of St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul, with his keen awareness of the needs of his time, was never intimidated by challenges. He understood that true charity requires more than good intentions—it demands planning, coordination, and foresight to meet the real needs of others. Inspired by his intelligent and creative charity, we are called to act boldly in a world in constant change.

Food and clothing drives remain essential, but they are not enough to address the new forms of poverty. We must also think about psychological support, technological inclusion, education in human values, emotional care, and the building of relationships grounded in human dignity. To achieve this, we must step out of our comfort zones and seek concrete solutions that reach society’s most invisible wounds.

Frédéric Ozanam: Social Commitment and Active Faith

Inspired by St. Vincent de Paul, Frédéric Ozanam lived his faith with creativity and conviction, believing that service to the poor was the most dignified way to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth. He was convinced that defending human dignity and promoting social justice were inseparable from authentic Christian witness.

This same commitment remains a call for the SSVP today: to look upon new forms of poverty with the “eyes of the heart,” remembering that those who suffer most bear the face of Christ. Ozanam invites us to take a prophetic and visionary stance toward the inequalities of our time, recognizing that it is not enough to give what we do not need; we must, as he said following St. Vincent de Paul, recognize that “the poor are our teachers.”

Following Jesus in Matthew 25: A Call to Transformation

In Matthew 25, Jesus makes it clear that the Christian’s responsibility is to act. He identifies himself directly with those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, or imprisoned. Today, in addition to these traditional forms of suffering, we are called to recognize Christ in those facing overwhelming anxiety, emotional exhaustion, racial discrimination, migration crises, and digital exclusion.

Pope Francis, in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, insists that love cannot remain theoretical. It must take form through concrete, compassionate, and sensitive action. Building the Kingdom of God means living a charity that goes beyond appearances, one that sees the person in their entirety — their pain, struggles, and hopes.

The Praxis of Love: Collective Responsibility and Transformative Action

The call to serve the poor today is not merely an individual invitation but a collective responsibility. The Vincentian Family must join forces to create networks of support that respond to new needs. These times require:

• Active empathy and deep listening: understanding each person’s real needs, free of prejudice.
• Actions that unite faith and science: building partnerships with professionals from various fields to offer holistic support.
• Promotion of autonomy: helping the most vulnerable become protagonists of their own story.

By responding with creativity, intelligence, and solidarity, we witness that Christ’s love is alive and transformative. As followers of St. Vincent and Frédéric Ozanam, our enduring challenge is to find Christ in the poor, serving them with hearts renewed by faith and charity.

May we never lack the courage to face the new forms of poverty of our time, confident that by loving and serving the least among us, we are building the Kingdom of God here and now.

Conclusion

True charity is neither static nor complacent. It is creative, bold, and dynamic — just as St. Vincent de Paul and Frédéric Ozanam taught us. Confronted with new forms of poverty, we are called to renew our Christian commitment, following Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25, engaging with today’s sociological and anthropological challenges, and heeding Pope Francis’s constant call to build a more just and fraternal society.

Together, let us embrace our Christian responsibility and make the Kingdom of God a living reality, here and now.

Fr. Edson Friedrichsen,CM.
Source: https://www.ssvpbrasil.org.br/