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:

It will not be difficult for us to truly love the poor if we remember that in loving them we are loving Jesus Christ Himself, who wished to remain with us in their person.

—Santiago de Masarnau, Address to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Madrid, June 1879.

Commentary:

A love with a theological foundation

Masarnau does not present love for the poor as merely sentimental or humanitarian, but as an act of faith: to love the poor is to love Christ Himself. The reference points directly to Jesus’ words: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). The poor are not simply recipients of our generosity, but a living sacrament of the Lord’s presence.

Christ present in history

“He wished to remain with us in their person” points us to the mystery of the Incarnation. God not only became man in Bethlehem and gave Himself on the cross, but He continues His presence in those whom the world disregards. Recognizing this changes our vision: there is no longer a “they” and “we,” but only a “we” that includes Christ in the poorest brother or sister.

A motivation that sustains service

In Vincentian ministry, there are moments of fatigue, frustration, or discouragement. Remembering that every visit, every patient listening, every act of help is offered to Jesus Himself gives deep meaning even to the humblest or most difficult tasks. This perspective turns service into a spiritual experience, not merely a social one.

Examples from the saints

Saint Vincent de Paul said that “the poor are our masters and lords,” because in them we serve the Lord Himself. Saint Teresa of Calcutta, in the same spirit, said: “In every poor person there is a disguised Christ.” Masarnau’s words belong to this tradition that sees the poor not as objects of pity, but as a place of encounter with God.

Implication for today

Loving the poor as Christ requires a conversion of heart: moving from occasional help to personal relationship, from almsgiving to friendship, from mere assistance to communion. It also means cultivating faith to recognize Christ’s face even when it is marked by the harshness of life or by difficult attitudes.