Formation
St. Vincent Experienced War
St. Vincent was painfully aware of the dire situations he faced and the rich nuances of Vincent’s response. What can we learn from Vincent and Pope Francis’ responses?
Moving Ahead (Jeremiah 1:17-19)
“Call,” a notion that figures prominently in the Scriptures, God summoning people to change direction. Heading nowhere in particular, someone senses an inner prod to take some new course.
How My Idea of Lent Has Changed
I never used to think about Lent until Ash Wednesday and the ritual of receiving ashes. My earliest recollection of Lent is that I wanted it to be over.
New: Searchable Quotes in Images
Thanks to some much appreciated help from a .famvin volunteer, Deirdre Noonan, you can now search the quotes within the images that are posted daily to VinFormation’s Facebook page.
Vincentian Self-worth
Self-worth is not a phrase that would have been much discussed in the 17th century. You're not going to find it in the lexicon of St. Vincent. But the concept was not foreign to him. He knew that of human worth (and because of that, self-worth) was founded on what God...
Humanization and Evangelization: Two Synonyms for the Vincentian Charism
“Many times I am ashamed to be part of this inhumane humanity”[1] Without a doubt the most hurtful aspect of our world today is the continuous dehumanization of reality. The violence, hunger, the marginalization, the ever growing inequality, and the lack of...
A Vincentian View: Giving Your Best
A Vincentian View “Giving Your Best” I have been on vacation for the past two weeks. I feel fortunate that these were the two weeks of the Olympic Games. During the first week, I was with my two sisters and my brother’s family in Northboro, MA. We spent much of the...
Seeds of Future Systemic Changes?
Seeds of future systemic changes….Father Gregory Gay, during his twelve years as Superior General, consistently invited us to think beyond what we were accustomed to, especially in terms of collaboration for systemic change. Here are the questions that he presented in...
Humble before God because Truth Demands It
Jesus is the definitive divine word that teaches us to be humble. He is also the perfect response of humility to the divine word. Jesus goes to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. Since the Pharisees love places of honor at banquets, one can suppose...
A Special Date and Place for All Followers of Vincent de Paul: August 23, Chatillon
Years before Vincent de Paul founded the Congregation of the Mission or the Daughters of Charity, the Vincentian charism of service began to take its first steps in a small town in eastern France, called Châtillon-les-Dombes (today Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne). Today,...
Your Sins are Forgiven
"Your Sins are forgiven" – The Largest Room! – St. Anthony's Bread – Christian Ways Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast, Repost from June 2013 “Your Sins are forgiven.” (Luke 36:49) These words of Jesus are so beautiful in our lives. We are forgiven no matter what we...
August 23, 1617: The Journey of the AIC Begins
It was in Châtillon-les-Dombes, a small French village, that St. Vincent created on August 23, 1617 the first of the “Confraternities,” later called “Charities.” This was the nucleus from which stemmed the AIC (known in the United States as Ladies of Charity). Watch...