A host of lessons arises within the story of the Prodigal Son. It continues to challenge and suggest as we reflect and recognize ourselves in the text.
Reflections
A Vincentian View: The Company of Strangers
by Pat Griffin, CM | March 27, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
Some years ago, I read a piece that discussed how much the modern world depends upon the work of strangers for its survival and wellbeing.
A Vincentian View: A Great Symphony of Prayer
by Pat Griffin, CM | March 13, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 1 Comment
In preparation for the Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis has invited the Christian community to center 2024 around the theme of prayer.
A Vincentian View: The Transfiguration – Listen
by Pat Griffin, CM | February 28, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
For the last years, I do not think that I have meditated on any theme more often that listening. Most recently, the line that ends the story of the Transfiguration has attracted me.
A Vincentian View: What a Difference a Day Makes
by Pat Griffin, CM | February 14, 2024 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
Ash Wednesday follows Mardi Gras – “Fat Tuesday.” The days stand out as contrasts.
A Vincentian View: Synodality and Listening
by Pat Griffin, CM | Mar 16, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
For me, the word most frequently invoked as one reflects upon and participates in the call to synodality in the current Church is “listening.”
A Vincentian View: Be Kind
by Pat Griffin, CM | Mar 2, 2022 | Formation, Reflections
Sometimes when I read the Scriptures, a word pops out for me in a way that it has not done before.
A Vincentian View: “Give me your tired, your poor”
by Pat Griffin, CM | Feb 7, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Vincentian View: "Give me your tired, your poor" When I was in grade school, I memorized lots of material for different subjects. This included much of the Baltimore Catechism. One recalled poem has been making an appearance in my mind more frequently in these...
A Vincentian View: A Vincentian Family
by Pat Griffin, CM | Jan 24, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Vincentian View: A Vincentian Family Sometimes it is hard not to take pride in being a member of the Vincentian Family. In my role as Director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society at St. John’s University, I have been in Kenya for the past week. I came...
A Vincentian View: Keeping in the Heart
by Pat Griffin, CM | Jan 3, 2018 | Formation, Reflections
Vincentian View: Keeping in the Heart Some of my friends can be categorized as falling into one of two groups. In one are those people who keep everything and who are not particularly concerned with organization. Their desks are piled high with books and magazines...
A Vincentian View: Light in the Night
by Pat Griffin, CM | Dec 20, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Vincentian View: Light in the Night “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Like many of you, I have heard those words sung numerous times in the past weeks. An odd thought flitted through my mind during one of these recent hearings: “How do we know that Jesus was born at...
A Vincentian View: Remembering to be Grateful
by Pat Griffin, CM | Dec 6, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
Vincentian View: Remembering to be Grateful Just about two weeks have passed since we celebrated Thanksgiving. I spent the day with many members of my family and felt the blessing which accompanies such a gathering. Leading those closest to me in prayer before we...
A Vincentian View: Three Stories – One Direction
by Pat Griffin, CM | Nov 22, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
A Vincentian View: Three Stories—One Direction Have you noticed that in the Sunday Gospels of these weeks, the passages have all been taken from successive verses in the 25th chapter of Matthew? The “Parable of the Ten Virgins” is Mt 25:1-13 (November 12); the...
A Vincentian View: The Lord Hears
by Pat Griffin, CM | Nov 8, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
A Vincentian View: The Lord Hears A number of phrases in the Scriptures of the past weeks have stayed in the front of my mind. I have felt the truth of these words and the considerable summons which they offer. From one hearing, they bring consolation and...
A Vincentian View: Homelessness
by Pat Griffin, CM | Oct 25, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
A Vincentian View: Homelessness Once every two years, St. John’s runs a “Poverty Conference.” This conference invites a discussion on an important situation in our society which impacts upon those who are poor and marginalized. In the past few years, issues like...
A Vincentian View: A Message for Us
by Pat Griffin, CM | Oct 11, 2017 | Formation, Reflections
A Vincentian View: A Message for Us I have been to more than one Vincent event in the past two weeks which contained an opening prayer which included some passage from Pope Francis’ message to the Vincentian Family on September 27th. Different people, different...