One of Vincent’s instructions to the Daughters of Charity involved the decision on what to do when the obligation for prayer and the obligation for service collided.
Reflections
A Vincentian View: Bearing the Marks of Jesus
Paul ordinarily employed a scribe to write down the letters that he dictated for the benefit of his local churches. Sometimes, however, he picks up the pen himself to write a last few lines.
A Vincentian View: The Body of Christ
On occasion, some college campuses run a program called “The Last Lecture.” We have done it a few times at St. John’s.
A Vincentian View: Creation
A Vincentian View: Creation In the past week, several events have been in the news which come together in my thinking around the theme of creation. The first is the announcement by scientists that they have discovered potentially habitable earth-like planets within a...
A Vincentian View: Beauty and the Beast
A Vincentian View: Beauty and the Beast As a child, like most of you, I heard and read the story of “Beauty and the Beast” many times. As an adult, I saw the animated Disney Movie (with Angela Lansbury beautifully singing the title song) and a Broadway version. Now,...
A Vincentian View: The Truth
A Vincentian View: The Truth Last year at this time, I was on vacation and that proves true in this year as well. Last year, I wrote an essay about the Olympics and the political campaign which were both taking place at that time. My theme centered on “giving your...
A Vincentian View: Apostolorum Apostola
A Vincentian View: Apostolorum Apostola This past Saturday, for the second time, the Church celebrated the “Feast of Mary Magdalene.” One year ago, in June 2016, the Congregation for Worship elevated her memorial to a feast in the decree "Apostolorum Apostola,"...
A Vincentian View: The Childlike
A Vincentian View: The Childlike Some time ago I read a quotation from William Makepeace Thackeray and its truth holds a firm place in my mind: “‘Mother’ is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children." Whenever I am around small children—whether in...
A Vincentian View: To Be Worthy of the Lord
A Vincentian View: To Be Worthy of the Lord As so often happens in Scripture, care for one’s family emerges as the highest and most rigorous of human loves; it becomes the measure for any human relationship. Yet, the Lord’s invitation to be specially “his” is...
A Vincentian View: Trinity and Community
A Vincentian View: Trinity and Community Vincent held out two great teachings of the Church for particular reverence by the members of the Congregation: the Incarnation and the Trinity. This past Sunday, we celebrated our triune God. The primary symbol for a life of...
A Vincentian View: The Paraclete
A Vincentian View: The Paraclete Usually when I consider the word “Paraclete,” I think of “advocate” or “intercessor” or “counselor” or some such term. “Paraclete” is, of course, one of the ways in which we often refer to the Holy Spirit. As we approach the...
A Vincentian View: Taking a Second (Better) Look
A Vincentian View: Taking a Second (Better) Look I think it is rare that we get things right the first time—at least, that is my experience. In order to learn how to do something, I need to do it more than once. To really understand something, to really allow it to...
