Jesus, the Word made flesh, dwells in our midst. Through him, God, whom we do not see, draws close to us and makes...
Reflections
The Scandal of Excess: Luxury, Indifference, and the Forgotten Poor
A growing divide between wealth and suffering mirrors past eras of decadence that ended in collapse, revealing a moral and spiritual crisis. Grounded in the Gospel and Vincentian tradition, the call is to stand with the poor, confront injustice, and resist systems that glorify excess while ignoring human dignity.
The Poor are also in the Cities • A Weekly Reflection with Louise de Marillac
In her letter to the Sisters traveling to Narbonne, Saint Louise de Marillac urges them to remain faithful to their simple lifestyle and to show special care for the “ashamed poor” who avoid hospitals. The reflection reminds us that true charity means seeking out the hidden and forgotten, serving all with dignity, patience, and sincere compassion.
A Vincentian View: Three Hearts
Last week, we celebrated the Sacred Heart of Jesus followed by the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It seems appropriate to link these two celebrations.
Contemplation: Not to Gratify, but to Glorify
The Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a spiritual guide rooted in the founders’ experience, focused more on holiness and love than rigid procedures. It shapes members to serve the poor with compassion and integrity, always led by God’s call.
Forerunners of the Bearer of the Good News
Jesus is the Good News of God’s kingdom in person. He sends his forerunners to towns and places where he plans to go.
Three Words
Some time ago I came upon what you might call a “3 Preposition Formula” that aimed to provide a framework for understanding something of the mystery of our Trinitarian God, our “3-personned” God.
Imagine if God Required a Security Deposit On “Our” Home
Every renter and landlord knows the meaning of “security deposit.” A security deposit holds people accountable for damages, excessive wear and tear, unpaid rent, etc. The landlord asks for a deposit against those things. Renters realize there is a cost if the...
Contemplation: The Best of Our Ability
St. Vincent teaches that serving the poor with love and humility, to the best of our ability, is more important than measurable outcomes, which are the typical standards of worldly success. Though our efforts may seem small or insufficient, they are meaningful when rooted in love, which never runs out and through which God acts.
Last of the Last Servants of Christ
Jesus is first since he is last; he is Lord since he is Servant. He wants his disciples to be like him, that is, last and servants of all. The New Testament portrays Peter as the first in so many ways of all the apostles. And Paul, of course, the least and last of...
A Vincentian View: A Faith-filled Future
This year’s observance of a “Jubilee of Hope,” our recent celebration of Pentecost, and last week’s memorial for St. Barnabas all tend in the same direction for me.
Asking the Wrong Question About the Trinity
I never liked preaching on the Trinity. Few priests would place it at the top of their list of topics they like to preach about. All that changed as I realized I was asking the wrong question about the Trinity.
