We Are Still Trying to Catch Up to St. Vincent!

by | Feb 3, 2019 | Eastern Province, Ministries | 4 comments

We are still trying to catch up to St.  Vincent! A heart on fire changed the church 400 years ago and set the stage for the best of the church we live in today.

Vincent’s influence today

On January 25, the Vincentians celebrated the founding of the Congregation of the Mission by St. Vincent de Paul. His glowing sparks of practical love ignite the hearts of countless women and men today as much as they did 400 years ago.

St. Vincent’s legacy has stood the test of time because he not only changed his world but anticipated many of the most exciting currents in today’s Church …

  • A lay-centered Church focused more on the People of God and the poor than the hierarchy
  • A concept of holiness that is more mission-oriented than a monastic ideal of personal sanctification
  • A vision of the role of women in ministry
  • A commitment to the formation of priests

In retrospect, we are still trying to catch up to him. Most people, even those who think they know St. Vincent, are unaware of how much he has shaped the Church of today.

So begins an article that appeared in the monthly Newsletter of the Miraculous Medal Association. Click here to read the full article.

The article also asks…

What was his genius?

  • St. Vincent was a genius at networking. He convinced others, who shared his vision, to be generous in meeting the needs of the poor and marginalized: “The poor suffer less from a lack of generosity than from a lack of organization.”
  • He was humble and not afraid to ask others to help. He was not wedded to any messianic delusions, “Lone Ranger” tendencies of thinking that he had to do it on his own.
  • He was adept at involving others in what he saw needed to be done. He found his strength in accepting his limitations.
  • He had the courage and the skill to walk where few had walked before.
  • He spoke the truth to power.

Stay tuned for the beginning of a series of video presentations illustrating the impact of sparks from the fire in Vincent’s heart.

4 Comments

  1. The Rev. Dr. Edward Ambrose "Ed"
    The Rev. Dr. Edward Ambrose "Ed" on February 5, 2019 at 12:06 am

    Yes,Vincent reformed from within the church! These reforms stick today. May we always be reformers.i pray that I shall reform by God’s grace alone!

    Ed Ambrose

    St. Joe’s,AA,1957

  2. Rev. Richard Gielow,cm
    Rev. Richard Gielow,cm on February 6, 2019 at 12:57 pm

    the question is Who is the WE that need to catch up
    to Vincent…The laity seem to be right on Vincent’s
    coattails….Ladies of Charity, St. Vincent de Paul Society,
    Youth Vincentian Volunteers and so on…. Perhaps, there
    is another group behind and it may be the clergy. Enjoyed
    the article

  3. John Freund, CM
    John Freund, CM on February 6, 2019 at 1:04 pm

    Great question, DIck!

  4. The Rev. Dr. Edward Ambrose "Ed"
    The Rev. Dr. Edward Ambrose "Ed" on February 9, 2019 at 10:31 pm

    P.S.

    Adding to Dick,John’s and my own comment……

    By God’s grace, I’m sensing that Vincentians are not behind. Having spent about six months in the internal seminary, I found “Chapter” humbling but helpful. This is an exercise whereby Confreres,having observed their brothers voluntarily, admonish one another for violations of the rules and/or the spirit of Vincentian regulations. In my case, I learned how I failed to measure up to the standards of our Lord as taught by Saint Vincent. Thankfully, such practices have resulted in my introspection of my own behaviors and,hopefully,life-long sensitivity to the feelings,rights and privileges of others.

    Thanks Vincentian Family!

    Ed Ambrose,AA,St. Joe’s, 1957