Spirituality and Spiritual Practice

A hand up literally means helping someone stand up on their own. It does not mean carrying them if they can walk.

The word solidarity is not found in any of Vincent’s writing. This word was not used until the nineteenth century. In Vincent’s writing we do find, however, expressions of compassion toward those sisters and brothers who suffer.

Two centuries before public assistance and three centuries before social security, Saint Vincent put in place a number of works and services for the poor — services that were totally free of charge. Therefore Vincent had to find resources in order to continue these works and services.

Saint Vincent intervened directly and indirectly in politics. While his personal vocation was that of evangelizing the poor, in an attempt to be faithful to his vocation he intervened in order to obtain the well-being of poor men and women who were condemned and dying of hunger.

Saint Vincent affirmed that we must serve all people and serve the whole person. The separation between the spiritual and corporal needs of the person seems to have created problems during the seventeenth century.

We will see how Vincent de Paul, his teaching and his life were centuries ahead of the Church’s magisterium.

The research of Sister Maria Pilar Lopez, DC, on St. Vincent regarding the dignity of the person, justice, management of material goods, solidarity and human promotion will stimulate Vincentian visions and dreams.