Some Preliminaries:

This month, we continue our series of reflections on the Final Document of the II International Convocation, held in Rome in November 2024. This time, our focus is on the third section: “Eyes Open Wide to the Present in a Genuine Conversation with God.”

We invite you to read this section beforehand so that your group discussions and shared prayer may be even more meaningful. As in previous months, each confraternity is encouraged to appoint a secretary to take notes during the reflection and post them in the “Comments” section of the reflection published on famvin.org (in both English and Spanish). In this way, we continue to build together a space of shared learning and communion in the spirit of the Vincentian Family.

Click on the following image to download the full document in English:

Text for Reflection:

This month, as we continue our reflection on the Final Document that was developed by the participants of the II International Convocation of the Vincentian Family (Rome 2024), we focus our attention on the seventh element that, when realized in our midst, will ensure the vitality and long-term (sustainable) impact of the Vincentian Family. Let us pause to read the following text:

REFLECTION

Vincent de Paul’s understanding of faith was intensely practical: true faith is trust in God that inevitably reveals itself in loving service to others, especially the poor and marginalized. He did not separate interior belief from outward action. For him, faith and works are inseparable—the love of God is shown in concrete deeds of mercy. He spoke with the members of each group that he founded and insisted upon this complementarity between faith and works. In the film, Monsieur Vincent, the following words are placed on the lips of St. Vincent and even though in reality he never uttered those words, nevertheless they are a wonderful summary of his thinking and teaching: “You will find out that Charity is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the kettle of soup and the full basket. But you will keep your gentleness and your smile. It is not enough to give soup and bread. This the rich can do. You are the servant of the poor, always smiling and good-humored. They are your masters, terribly sensitive and exacting master you will see. And the uglier and the dirtier they will be, the more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is only for your love alone that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them.”

Vincent did, however, tell the Daughters of Charity: Do you think, Sisters, that God expects you simply to bring His poor persons a piece of bread, a little meat, some soup, and some medicine?  Oh no, Sisters! that was not his plan in choosing you from all eternity to render Him the services you do for Him in the person of the poor.  He expects you to provide for their spiritual needs as well as for those of the body.  They need heavenly manna; they need the Spirit of God (CCD:IX:189). Furthermore, he told the Brothers and the priests: If there are any among us who think they are in the Mission to evangelize poor people but not to alleviate their sufferings, to take care of their spiritual needs but not their temporal ones, I reply that we have to help them and have them assisted in every way, by us and by others, if we want to hear those pleasing words of the Sovereign Judge of the living and the dead, “Come, beloved of my Father; possess the kingdom that has been prepared for you, because I was hungry and you gave me to eat; I was naked and you clothed me; sick and you assisted me.”  To do this is to preach the Gospel by words and by works (CCD:XII:77-78). Yes, when faith and action come together we are indeed being faithful to Jesus’ command to preach the gospel throughout the world.

This relationship between faith and action implies another relationship, namely, a relationship between faith/action and prayer. We proclaim the good news to the poor and then we bring this reality into our prayer and medication and, as a result, are strengthened to go back out into the world and proclaim good news once again. Here, however, as the Final Document states, our prayer and our activity/ministry are done in community, are carried out as a collaborative activity, as a team activity. Indeed, this dimension of collaboration is to define every branch’s approach to ministry. Together we can accomplish much more than any one branch or individual can accomplish alone. Finally, in this regard, our ministry must also be undertaken from the perspective of systemic change. In can be said that Vincent de Paul profoundly changed the world by revolutionizing care for the marginalized, transforming 17th-century France through organized, systemic charity.

• Systematized Charity: Vincent moved beyond sporadic charity to organized, sustainable aid, setting up programs for the poor, orphans, elderly, and prisoners.
• Empowered Women and Laity: with Louise de Marillac, Vincent founded the Daughters of Charity, thus empowering women to serve in the community rather than remaining cloistered … he also promoted lay involvement in the Church.
• Global Legacy: His, and his followers’, efforts developed into the worldwide Vincentian Family, which continues to provide direct aid to the poor, influencing modern humanitarian principles.
• Vision of Dignity: He believed in the fundamental dignity of every human, famously stating that one should love God with the strength of one’s arms and the sweat of one’s brow.

Some questions for reflection:

[1] how are faith and work combined in your ministry?

[2] What is the interaction in your life between ministry and prayer?

[3] Are collaboration and systemic change elements in your ministry?