27 September 2010: Memorial -- St Vincent de Paul, priest

Dedicated to evangelization of the poor, unfortunate, and suffering. His life remained deeply rooted in humility despite his worldwide fame. (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], Daily Roman Missal, 1989, p1650)

St Vincent de Paul

This genial initiator’s vocation of charitable social action yet lights the path of his sons and his daughters, of laity giving in his spirit, of young people seeking the key to an existence usefully expended in gift of self.

To serve the poor better, Vincent willed “to gather around him churchmen free of all benefices so as to be able to apply themselves entirely under the good pleasure of the bishops, to salvation of poor people of the fields, through preaching, catechism and general confession, without taking any reward of any sort ...”

That group of priests called “Lazarists”, developed rapidly into the Congregation of the Mission. Vincent never ceased from inculcating “the spirit of the Lord” into his companions. He summed up that spirit in five fundamental virtues: simplicity, gentleness toward one’s neighbor, humility as regards oneself; and, as a condition of those three virtues, mortification and zeal, their dynamic aspects.

His exhortations to those he sent to preach the Gospel are full of spiritual wisdom and pastoral realism: it is not a question of being loved for one’s own sake but of making Jesus Christ loved.

Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p339

St Marie-Louise de Marillac

Another aspect of the dynamism and realism of Vincent de Paul was seen in giving a unified and effective structure to the “Charities” which had multiplied. Under the guidance of Monsieur Vincent, Louise de Marillac was assigned to inspecting and supporting the “Charities”. She did wonders and her radiance did much to make a number of “good country girls”, already helping in the “Charities”, decide to follow her example of total oblation to God and the poor.

The ‘Company of the Daughters of Charity’ saw the light on 29 November 1633. Vincent de Paul gave it an original and highly demanding rule: “For your monastery, have the chambers of the sick; for cells, rented rooms; for a chapel, the parish church; for cloisters, the city streets; for enclosure, obedience; for a grill, fear of God; for a veil, holy modesty.”

The Company’s spirit was summed up by him as follows: “You must do what the Son of God did on earth. You must give life to these poor sick, the life of the body and the life of the soul.”

Ref: cf ibid, p340

Mission of the seventy-two disciples

Jesus left Jerusalem after warning his disciples against the wiles of the Pharisees. He wished to visit and preach in other towns and villages of Judaea. A great work and little time to do it; the end was approaching -- only six months away.

To achieve his mission better and to train disciples who could work afar, “He appointed also other seventy-two; and he sent them two and two into every city and place where he himself was to come” (cf Lk 10:1).

These new missionaries received nearly the same instructions as the Apostles did: “I send you as lambs among wolves; carry neither purse, nor money, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you ...

“But if they receive you not, go out into the streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city that clings to us we wipe off against you’ ... I tell you, it will be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that city. Yet you know this, the kingdom of God is at hand” (cf Lk 10:3-12) for those who will repent.

Let these divine lessons sink deep into our hearts; follow them closely. They may be summed: gentleness, selflessness, constancy, conciliation, simplicity, recollectedness: tempered by mercy and repentance.

The words of Jesus against the cities which rejected the word of God should inspire us with a holy fear: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the mighty works that have been wrought in you, they would have done penance long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at judgment than for you. And you, Capharnaum, which is exalted to heaven, you will be thrust down to hell.” (Lk 10:13-5)

We have not been less favored with the gifts of grace than the inhabitants of Capharnaum. Have we corresponded with them as we should?

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp609-611

To obey as Christ did

A person who exercises authority in imitation of Christ, truly serves. Jesus taught us that service means obedience. “He became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” (Phil 2:8)

This is the context of authority which is a good. Authority in the Church is more than a good; but a blessing. Without authority, the Church could not exist as its Founder desires.

We must look upon authority in the Church with eyes of faith. Christ meets us in the instructions ecclesiastical authorities give. The great enemy of authority and community is self-love, which we will all suffer from; our inheritance of Original Sin. We must be humble.

A proud person will seek any excuse to avoid obedience. Let us wholeheartedly and cheerfully resolve to obey God’s command. “Nowadays the world we live in is full of disobedience and gossip, of intrigue and conspiracy. So, more than ever we have to love obedience, sincerity, loyalty and simplicity; and our love of all these will have a supernatural significance, will make us more human.” (cf Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 36)

Let us go to the protection of our holy Mother Mary. She, who wanted to be “the handmaiden of the Lord” (Lk 1:38). She will teach us the full meaning of that glorious Christian motto: “to serve is to reign”. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 530)

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 5:61-2

Our Lady of Good Meeting, half a league from Agde. This image, made of baked clay, was discovered miraculously, in the year 1523. — Triple Couronne, n. 34. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)

Our Lady of Happy Meeting / Assembly. Le Laus, France. 1664. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)