One of the reasons for Saint Vincent de Paul to be considered a key figure in the history of the holiness of the Church is his style of living his vocation. Each week we will present an example.
Reflections
Acts of the Apostles, Systemic Change and Polarization
by John Freund, CM | April 7, 2021 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change | 0 Comments
Over the next several weeks the liturgy, drawing from the Acts of the Apostles, presents selected stories of ordinary people who coped with severe polarization some 2,000 years ago.
Joyful to See the Lord in Their Midst
by Ross Dizon | April 6, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
Vincentian Prayer Images: Walking Through Each Day with St. Vincent IV
by John Freund, CM | April 6, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
St. Vincent told the Daughters of Charity: “Saint Paul tells you how much you lose when the first thoughts of your mind are filled with anything other than God.”
Creating a Space of Retreat At Home
by Jordan Bouchard | April 5, 2021 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
As we find ourselves continuing to practice physical distancing, it has called us to be creative in how we can go on ‘retreat’ and connect with faith-filled communities.
Could Teleportation Aid Bible Reading?
by John Freund, CM | Feb 11, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
I sometimes wish I could be teleported back to the days of the early church and experience Jesus as they did.
A Poverty of Empathy
by Pam Matambanadzo | Feb 10, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
For years now I have fully appreciated the thought behind celebrating Black History Month. At least that was until I saw…
The Value of Effort
by Javier F. Chento | Aug 18, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
At this time, in many countries of the northern hemisphere the school year begins. As a reflection on the value of effort and the importance of education, we invite you to see, comment and share the following video, an animated short story that tells us how education...
Evangelizing:“assumptions” about Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, and social justice
by Aidan R. Rooney, C.M. | Aug 17, 2017 | Evangelization, Formation, Reflections
Catholics often struggle to explain doctrines to their friends (Catholic by birth and/or non-Catholic). We often think "everyone knows." We have assumptions. John Kane, in his Denver Post commentary "Holy day highlights Catholic “assumptions” about Virgin Mary, mother...
Expecting and Seeing
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 16, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Expecting and Seeing (Matthew 13:13) Some time ago I went to see a touring art exhibit featuring Monet’s water lilies. Laid out in three big murals that were hung together, it wrapped around the room to give the visitor a sense of being right there at the pond’s edge....
Does charity choke justice? On the Limits of Charity (part 2)
by Aidan R. Rooney, C.M. | Aug 16, 2017 | Formation, Reflections, Systemic change
David Hilfiker, a veteran of decades of direct service with the poor, raised questions 15 years ago in a 2001 article from The Other Side magazine exploring the tension between charity and justice. This is the second of a two-part reflection on his writings. Symptoms...
Caring for Those in the Outskirts
by Ross Dizon | Aug 15, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
To see Jesus is to see the merciful God who is caring towards those in the outskirts who cry out to him. Jesus is a Jew. It seems he is even portrayed as siding with those who show their contempt for the Gentiles by calling them dogs or swine. This closed and...
Mary Gentle or Tough – Jesus the Person
by Lynn L'Heureux | Aug 14, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Mary, Gentle or Tough - Do you ever think of Mary as being tough? I always think gentle, full of grace. Mary is gentle and pious, but at the same time is one tough woman. Not with roughness, but a tough love. Mary is portrayed as meek in pictures and statues and in...
Marian spirituality and the Vincentian Charism
by John Freund, CM | Aug 12, 2017 | Formation, Reflections, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice
In a major study of Marian spirituality and the Vincentian charism noted researcher Fr. Corpus Delgado offers many insights. Some of them might be quite surprising.
Mary, “a Sign of Hope and Comfort for Your People”
by Javier F. Chento | Aug 12, 2017 | Daughters of Charity, Formation, Reflections
On August 15th, the Catholic Church celebrates a great Marian Feast: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this occasion, we of the Company of the Daughters of Charity would like to offer you a meditation, suitable for communal or personal use, on this dogma...
Get to know Louise through her letters • A Resource
by John Freund, CM | Aug 11, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
It has been over 80 years since Louise's canonization by Pope Pius XII. In this 3 minute 53 second video VinFormation presents a few samples from the letters of St. Louise de Marillac. They show us the connections between St. Louise and her contemporaries, and give us...