Discover the heart and spirit of Blessed 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:

The poor (let us be honest, gentlemen), have they not done for us—and are they not continually doing for us—much more good than we are doing for them?

—Santiago de Masarnau, Address to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Madrid, July 1855.

Commentary:

A humble acknowledgment

Masarnau calls us to a sincerity that dismantles any pride: in our relationship with the poor, we are the ones who receive more than we give. This perspective breaks the common image of benefactors who “save” others and instead places us as disciples and debtors.

The good we receive

The poor give us the opportunity to live charity, to exercise patience, to open our hearts, and to grow in virtue. They draw us out of our closed world and confront us with realities that purify our intentions. Often without knowing it, the poor become instruments of God for our conversion.

Reversal of roles

At first glance, it seems the poor are the ones in need and we are the providers. However, on a spiritual level, the opposite is true: we need the poor in order to become more like Christ. As Saint Vincent de Paul said, “The poor are our masters and lords,” because they lead us to God by forcing us to step out of ourselves.

A continual good

Masarnau stresses that this benefit is not occasional, but “continual”: every encounter with a poor person can renew us, correct us, inspire us, and bring us closer to the truth of the Gospel. This is a grace we often do not realize until we look back and see how much we have changed because of them.

A call to gratitude

If we accept that the poor do us more good than we do for them, gratitude becomes an essential part of service. This means not only thanking God, but also explicitly acknowledging the poor as benefactors in our spiritual life.

Suggestions for personal reflection and group discussion:

1. Have you ever experienced that a poor person did more good for you than you did for them?
2. How does recognizing yourself as a beneficiary change the way you serve?
3. In what specific aspects of your life have you grown thanks to your relationship with the poor?
4. Do you practice gratitude not only toward God but also toward those in need?
5. What steps can you take to make your service more of an exchange of gifts rather than a one-way help?

Let us pray:

Lord, open our eyes to recognize
the good we receive from those who suffer most.
May we not see ourselves as owners,
but as grateful debtors.

Teach us to listen in silence,
to learn patience,
to be transformed by the humility of the poor.

Let every encounter be a school of the Gospel,
a place where your grace purifies us
and your truth leads us to a more genuine love.

May we live in gratitude,
aware that we receive more than we give,
and let that awareness move us
to serve with joy and reverence.

Amen.