Pat Griffin, CM
Author
A Vincentian View: Hope in Ashes
A Vincentian View: “Hope in Ashes” When I play poker, I do so solely for enjoyment. You can tell that by some of the games which I will play. One may be familiar to you: “Blind Man’s Bluff.” In this poker game, each player receives one card face down. Then...
A Vincentian View: A Vincentian Pentecost
A Vincentian View: “A Vincentian Pentecost” Like many of you, I have been thinking about the 400th anniversary year for a while. Partly, that is because of my desire to celebrate it worthily as an individual and within my ministry, but more so because I want to...
A Vincentian View: An Examined Life
A Vincentian View: “An Examined Life” Socrates wrote: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” The sentiment gives color and force to the desire for making a retreat, a nightly examen, a preparation for the sacrament of reconciliation, a heartfelt psalm of thanks. ...
A Vincentian View – A Christmas Homily: “Celebrating the Small”
A Vincentian View A Christmas Homily: “Celebrating the Small” Each year before Christmastime in Advent, one of my brothers sends me four tickets to “The Messiah” at Lincoln Center. This gives me an opportunity to see this seasonal show with some of my confreres and...
A Vincentian View: The Vincentian Heart
A Vincentian View: The Vincentian Heart The Theology Department at St. John’s University has offered me the opportunity to teach the course on Vincent de Paul next semester. I really have enough to do, but the thought of teaching this course during the 400th...
A Vincentian View: Your Children’s Children
A Vincentian View: Your Children’s Children May the LORD bless you from Zion; may you see Jerusalem’s prosperity all the days of your life and live to see your children’s children (Ps 128:5-6) Last year at this time after Thanksgiving, I wrote about my grandnephew...
A Vincentian View: Remembering
A Vincentian View: “Remembering” “God gave us memories so that we could have roses in December.” (J. M. Barrie) That line still sticks in my mind from high school because it flows out of my sentimental heart. It reminds me of the importance of memories and their...
A Vincentian View: Beginning with Mercy
A Vincentian View: “Beginning with Mercy” As it has for many of you, this “Year of Mercy” has provided many blessings in my life. The privilege of preaching and presenting on mercy has enabled and demanded that I spend some time reflecting on what this virtue means...
A Vincentian View: Human Stories
A Vincentian View: “Human Stories” This past Saturday at St. John’s University, we launched the first of our ongoing series on interfaith dialogue. In collaboration with the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Vincentian Center at SJU will attempt to put together a whole day...
A Vincentian View: “Our” Kids
Vincentian View: “Our Kids” Founder’s Week (September 20-27) at St. John’s University celebrates St. Vincent de Paul whose spirit rests at the heart of our University. This year, the theme for our remembrance was “Vincentian Education: Illuminating minds, creating...