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....
What do I do, Lord? Gospel/Vincentian Discernment
“What Do I Do, Lord?” Gospel/Vincentian Discernment (Acts 1; John 15) There’s what you might call a woman’s quip about the man supposedly being the one who pursues the woman. It runs, “He chased her and he chased her and he chased her – until she caught him!” You...
A stranger is a friend who I have yet to meet
My brothers and sisters of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, it is with great pleasure that I have this opportunity to address you today on a special theme that we, as a Vincentian Family, hope to promote throughout the year 2017. As you all well know, we are celebrating, as of January 2017, the inspirational birth of the charism of the Vincentian Family.
Shocking without any doubt
Jesus, the embodiment of God’s shocking forgiveness, provides us with the opportunity to love with abandon. It is shocking to Simon the Pharisee that his guest lets a notorious sinful woman approach him. He doubts, therefore, that Jesus is a prophet. Simon and the...
Open reflections in the Year of Vincentian Collaboration (6)
6. The pastoral relationship with the laity in the Vincentian family. It’s time for the laity to set their clocks to the correct time. The idea may seem new, but it is part of our Vincentian cultural heritage and also of the Church in general, at least since Vatican...
Discovering God in Silence
Discovering God in Silence - God Gives Hope – Roll up Your Sleeves – Vincentian Leader a Servant Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast – Tuesday, June 7, 2016 Discovering God in Silence - I know I write about this often. I just believe it is the best place to be for...
Mater Dolorosa: Keeping Company with Mary near the Cross
Many English-speaking Catholics of a certain age, will recall the Stabat Mater hymn (“At the cross her station keeping”) that was so much a part of the praying of the “Stations of the Cross” during the Lenten season: At the Cross her station keeping, stood the...
The Charity of Christ #famvin400
The charity of Christ urges me. A while ago, I wrote an editorial on women and the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the charism. After reading this article on .famvin about the role of women in the enfleshment of the charism of Charity some 400 years ago, two...
How St. Vincent went from retail to wholesale
The story of the impact of one of Vincent early sermons is well known in Vincentian circles, especially among the Ladies of Charity. Indeed, it is their “foundation story.” Four hundred years later that story is still being told. But it is a story with even wider...
At the Door of Mercy #IamVincent
Church of Saint Laurent (Paris), May 7, 2016. A poor man sleeps at the gates of St. Lawrence church, in Paris. It's 9 am, several hours have passed since the city has already begun its busy day. In the photo, a dirty and tatty temple with rehabilitation underway. At...
