Discover the heart and spirit of Venerable Santiago de Masarnau through his own words—a gifted musician and the visionary who brought the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to Spain.

As National president of the Society, Santiago de Masarnau (1805-1882) bequeathed a timeless legacy of faith and compassion, distilled into dozens of stirring addresses delivered at the Society’s Assemblies. In every speech, his profound love for God and for the poor shines through, along with a prophetic vision of charity as a joyful, consistent way of life. His words, brimming with passion and clarity, still speak to us today—challenging, inspiring, and inviting us to walk the path he so faithfully traveled.

Text of Santiago de Masarnau:

If grace could be obtained with money! If there were some coin with which grace could be bought!… That coin is prayer. Humble, fervent, and persevering prayer obtains everything. Let us therefore understand the importance of prayer, that fundamental basis of all Christian practices… Let us strive to make everyone understand not only the usefulness but the absolute necessity of prayer.

—Santiago de Masarnau, Address to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Madrid, April 1854.

Commentary:

The Paradox of Grace and the “Coin” that Obtains it

Masarnau invites us into an exercise of imagination: if grace could be purchased, how much would we be willing to pay for it? He then reminds us that, in reality, grace has no price, and the only “currency” valid to receive it is prayer. This is not a commercial exchange, but a relational act: prayer opens us to God’s free gift.

Prayer as the Key to all Things

Saying that it “obtains everything” is a bold claim, but one grounded in Scripture. Jesus himself invites: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Humble and persevering prayer does not force God’s hand, but it disposes the heart to receive according to His will. Humility places us in our creaturely place, perseverance makes us steadfast in trust.

The Value of Prayer in the Vincentian Tradition

Saint Vincent de Paul considered prayer the “breathing apparatus” of mission: without it, service withers. He told his missionaries that time spent in prayer was no less apostolic than visiting the poor, because it is in prayer that one receives the strength to serve with true charity. The Daughters of Charity, following this legacy, maintained daily moments of personal and communal prayer as an indispensable condition for their work.

Frédéric Ozanam likewise stressed this necessity: without prayer, charity risks becoming mere social assistance. For him, prayer was the place where friendship with Christ became so real that it inevitably led to seeking Him in the poor.

Praying in Order to Understand and to Teach Others to Pray

Masarnau stresses an important nuance: it is not enough for us to pra, rather we must “make everyone understand” the necessity of prayer. This requires a living witness. When someone sees a Christian praying with conviction and joy, they perceive that something essential is present. In a rushing world, pausing to pray is both countercultural and deeply missionary.

Practical Application Today

In the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, this teaching is still relevant: meetings begin and end with prayer, not out of formality but out of recognition that everything we do depends on God. In our personal life, setting aside concrete times for daily prayer, even brief ones, is sowing the “coin” that opens the heart to grace.

Suggestions for personal reflection and group discussion:

1. Do you consider prayer optional or a vital necessity in your Christian life?
2. When have you experienced that humble and persevering prayer has changed a situation—or your own heart?
3. How can you help others discover the importance of prayer without imposing it, but rather sharing it from your own experience?
4. What concrete obstacles do you face in keeping a steady rhythm of prayer?
5. If prayer is the “currency” that opens the way to grace, how are you investing your time to acquire it?

Let us pray:

Lord, Your grace cannot be bought,
it is received as a gift,
welcomed by an open heart.

Let my prayer be the humble coin,
the persevering plea,
the simple trust that holds nothing back.

Teach me to ask without growing weary,
to seek without giving up,
to knock without fear,
knowing You always hear.

May my prayer never be empty routine,
but living dialogue,
breath that sustains,
a spring that nourishes all charity.

Make my life a witness,
so that others may discover in me
the need and the joy of prayer.

Amen.