vincentian spirituality
A Steadying Presence (Ps 128; Romans 8:35-39)
by Tom McKenna, CM | November 18, 2020 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
“God” is not just another word, but rather the designation of the overflowing reality at the heart of everything.
Given A Break (Ex. 22:20; Mt 22:38-40)
by Tom McKenna, CM | November 4, 2020 | Formation, Reflections | 3 Comments
In his unaffected way, he was voicing a truth that runs across the whole length of the Bible and all down the avenues of our faith: “I give help because I have been helped.”
Lifting the Veil (Is. 25: 6-8; Phil 4:20; Mt 22:1-14)
by Tom McKenna, CM | October 21, 2020 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
One of the favorite images seen all through the Scriptures is the feast, the sumptuous banquet overflowing, as Isaiah pictures it, with “juicy, rich food and choice wines.”
A Collaborative Witness (Luke 8:1-3)
by Tom McKenna, CM | October 7, 2020 | Formation, Reflections | 0 Comments
Certainly the words and actions of such groups are meant to proclaim God’s Kingdom, but their very collaboration is itself an announcement of the Message.
Playing Favorites? (James 2:1-5)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Sep 22, 2021 | Formation, Reflections
I knew a close-knit family of 5 personable children, and as they got older, they would kid their mother about having a favorite.
The Word (Deut 4: 1-8; Jas 1:17-27)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Sep 8, 2021 | Formation, Reflections
I remember a heated conversation between a man who was promising something to a woman, and the woman to whom the promise was being made. It ended with her exasperated response, “Those are just words.”
In This Together (Joshua 24; John 6)
by Tom McKenna, CM | Aug 25, 2021 | Formation, Reflections
Our believing is not solitary. The quality of one person’s faith spills over into the religious convictions of all the others.
Soaked Through and Through by Sense of God’s Reality
by Tom McKenna, CM | Mar 16, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
“Soaked Through and Through by Sense of God’s Reality” - Psalm 82 My Father loved and listened to classical music. Looking back on that, it’s a bit surprising because he was from a working class home, never graduated high school, played semi-pro football, and so on....
Not Just Interesting, But Moving
by Tom McKenna, CM | Mar 2, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
“Not Just Interesting, But Moving” (Exodus 3; Psalm 103) There’s a difference between things that are interesting and things that are intriguing, between things which make us curious and things which actually move us. I can pick up a score of a symphony and...
St. Louise and the tax collector in the back of the room
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 17, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
One of the famous Gospel characters is the publican, the tax collector in the back of the room. Jesus portrays him as the ideal worshipper, the best kind of pray-er. He knows how to come before God; he does it right. Not full of himself, not holding up accomplishments...
Facing Mercy
by Michael Whalen, CM | Feb 14, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
Facing Mercy: In the Reign of God’s Mercy There Are No Anonymous Faces in Crowds Writers often acknowledge the importance of opening words and lines. Images grab; words beckon; tones compel; and even official church documents capitalize on this dynamic. Church...
Hearing The Word in Pressured Times
by Tom McKenna, CM | Feb 10, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
Hearing The Word in Pressured Times (Lk. 5:1-11) Here are some things to note in this Gospel about Jesus getting himself involved in a fishing expedition with Peter and his friends. For one thing, there’s Peter’s state of mind. He’s exhausted. All night on the...
Getting in the Spirit
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 23, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
Father Tom McKenna offers the following reflection Getting “In the Spirit” (Samuel 18; Romans 8) The story of David and Goliath is set inside a larger narrative about the fall of Saul and the rise of David. And the difference between these two is that one, Saul,...
Hannah’s Prayer – Fr. Tom McKenna
by Tom McKenna, CM | Jan 19, 2016 | Formation, Reflections
Fr. Tom Mckenna offers this reflection on Hannah’s Prayer (I Samuel 1:9-20) In a talk on the spirituality of the Twelve Steps, the speaker told a story of a woman who was being swept along in a powerful ocean current. She was a swimmer and so at first wasn’t...
5 Faces of Vincent de Paul (includes text)
by John Freund, CM | Aug 6, 2015 | Formation, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice
5 Faces of St. Vincent de Paul - which one do you know best? Missionary… witness… formator… inventive… contemplative… active… prayerful… gentle… compassionate… these are some of the words used to describe St. Vincent de Paul.Fr. Maloney writes... Vincent de Paul lived...
Vincent on the Trinity and Corpus Christi
by John Freund, CM | Jun 7, 2015 | Formation, Spirituality and Spiritual Practice
“(Vincent) often spoke of the mystery of the Trinity to the Vincentians and Daughters. In an article “As friends who love one another deeply – reflections on community living yesterday and today” Father Robert Maloney shares his reflections.