A gift – something given over freely, with good will and coming not from obligation but from good will and esteem. It raises the question: of all the gifts to receive, which would be the most valuable and precious?
Reflections
If I were John the Baptist…
In the back of my head, I have wondered why Jesus was baptized. After all, Jesus is the Son of God. He is sinless. There had to be something more.
Traditions, Customs, and Habits
Jesus makes all things new. Hence, he questions traditions and customs, most of all, those that veil his true face....
Chief and eternal Shepherd of the flock
Jesus is a Shepherd who cares and protects; we fear no evil even when we walk through dark valleys. Jesus and the one who has sent him to be Shepherd of the whole flock are one. The Shepherd’s success depends on this union. The intimacy between the Father and Jesus...
Layers and barks
The coconut is a difficult fruit to split open. You will need a machete or a large knife to get to its delicious meat. In many parts of Latin America, fresh coconut water serves to quench the thirst of those on a walk. Staying in my memory is the amazing agility of...
The Value of Suffering
The Value of Suffering -- Vincentians are Merciful – See your Miracles in Prayer – Forgiveness and Trust God’s Plan Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast – Tuesday, April 12. 2016 The Value of Suffering – Many of those we serve are suffering more than we know. Our job as...
A Wideness in God’s Mercy, A Kindness in God’s Justice
Before moving forward it might prove useful to pursue a series of five meditations on the relationship between mercy and justice. In the first meditation, the relationship between mercy and justice as enshrined in Pope Francis’ Bull of Indiction is noted (primarily...
I Wish I’d Said That: Vincentians of Wherever
I wish I’d said that. We can learn from other people and imitate their virtues. That’s why we tell stories of Vincentians of Wherever. This little excerpt from Jack Melito’s, "Saint Vincent de Paul: Windows on his Vision" tells us why we should tell contemporary...
How can I make a difference?
To be a difference maker don’t let your environment get you down. J. Patrick Murphy writes in one of his mini-reflections on the life of Mr. Vincent, "France was at war through all of Vincent's life except for the last few months. Beheading for religious dissidents...
#IamVincent and I #TeachforAmerica @NiagaraUniv
Emma Pullano, a Niagara University senior, has been accepted into the TeachForAmerica program. Teach For America is a national nonprofit working to expand educational opportunities for low-income students. Corps members commit to teach for two years in high-need urban...
Examination of a Vincentian Social Conscience
In his blog, A Voice of the Poor - Looking at life through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, Jack Murphy presents various resources available that "help for our beliefs and to compare our actions to the standards of our faith." These include the Ignatian Spiritual...
Transformation, I Got What I Came For #Iam Vincent @DePaulMission
Georgianna Torres Reyes recounts an encounter in the Chapel at Rue de sèvres in this simple video. #GiorgiannaisVincent How have you been changed by your encounters with people who have been marginalized? How has your personal history helped or hindered your...
