Remembering Vincent and Louise ... two great prophets of Charity
The celebrations are a collective memory of significant events for groups and communities. Meet at some point the past, present and future. Gratitude for the past evoke a strong commitment to the present and create hope for the future.
When we celebrate the 350th anniversary of the death of Vincent and Louise, not so much his own death what we remember, but his death as the culmination of their lives that left their mark in history by what they meant in their lifetime. They were icons of charity. They were two great prophets of Charity.
When we celebrate the 350th anniversary of the death of Vincent and Louise, not so much his own death what we remember, but his death as the culmination of their lives that left their mark in history by what they meant in their lifetime. They were icons of charity. They were two great prophets of Charity.
St. Vincent de Paul (September 27, 1660) and St. Louise de Marillac (March 15, 1660), were the founders of the Caridad Misión Vicente Pául -Luisa de marillac.
Rekindling the Fire
In the history of their lives, their letters and lectures, Vincent and Louise appear as normal people with its frailties and charisma but capable of achieving great heights of holiness. They show how it can dramatically transform the power of grace fragile vessels of land in instruments
effective in God's plan.
effective in God's plan.
Vincent was a young adventurer of rural constantly seeking broader horizons. Fed early ambitions for social advancement through the priestly ministry to help his family that he loved. He was gifted with an uncanny ability to establish relationships with a wide range of people - rich and poor, churchmen and politicians, nobles and commoners, men and women, religious and laity. Later he put the gift in a good cause to realize his dream of serving the poor. Men of our time, constantly seeking "more" in life, can take courage from the life of Vincent.
Although Louise was born and grew up with suffering as a constant companion, never let it dissuaded him from pursuing the goals of his life. He was a loving wife, a mother delivered, concerned continuously by his only son. When she became a widow, continued to help others, especially the poor. Having discovered the vocation of his life with the help of Vincent, became his faithful friend and collaborator. Together, they founded the Daughters of Charity, a radically new way of living the religious life of women in their time. Many women today - religious and secular, single, widowed and married - will find an inspiring model Luisa, one that finally "was achieved" despite the constraints imposed by birth, by the nature and circumstances.
After 350 years, Vincent and Louise continue to impact and inspire generations. The fire of his love still burns and turns to many others. The celebration of the anniversary of his death rekindles the fire in us. Change the past into a living present that transforms.
They Dared to Dream During his life, Vincent and Louise pursued with a relentless passion a dream ... a dream they thought it was like a fire that consumed them. They dreamed to surrender completely to follow Jesus Christ evangelizing and serving the poor of his time. This dream was like the North Star that guides every decision made and every step they took.
Vincent and Louise, however, were not born with this dream. In fact they had other dreams when they were young ... as we all have dreams. But to the extent that they were aware of these early dreams were constantly beset by troubles, failures, returns, unexpected changes, as if an invisible hand were present in the way of its realization.
Vincent and Louise, however, were not born with this dream. In fact they had other dreams when they were young ... as we all have dreams. But to the extent that they were aware of these early dreams were constantly beset by troubles, failures, returns, unexpected changes, as if an invisible hand were present in the way of its realization.
Progressively, Vincent and Louise discovered the meaning of these events seemed to move away from the realization of their dreams. Actually were the mysterious ways of God to reveal
the vocation of his life. Vincent and Louise were open to this revelation and they were guided by the Spirit.
Both Vincent and Louise have been tormented with doubts profound faith for some time ... they were real doubts "dark nights" for them. But an enlightening experience for Louise and a final decision of Vincent to serve the poor changed the course of their lives. Since then on, God was his all. They put aside their earliest dreams to follow God's call ... a call that unfolds through mediation of events and people. After placing his hand on the plow, Vincent and Louise never look back.
In an age of endless wars fought for religious and poverty policies and a philosophy that challenges any imagination, dared Vincent and Louise to dream ... a seemingly impossible dream. But with the guidance and support of Providence, with the extraordinary gifts with which nature had enriched them so generously, and with the blessing circumstances, the dream of Vincent and Louise gradually took shape. The Brotherhoods Charity, the Congregation of the Mission, the Ladies of Charity and the Daughters of Charity. While pursuing his dream with a firm conviction
Vincent and Louise lit without being aware this new trails, paths contributing significantly to renew the Church and society in seventeenth-century France ... and beyond.
Keeping his dream alive today
Remembering Vincent and Louise, we are grateful by charisma ... God gave them a charisma that founders transmitted to the Vincentian Family as a gift to the Church and the world.
Creative fidelity is the other side of gratitude for the gift of Vincent and Louise. This fidelity us back to the origins of Vincentian history ... invites us to read this in the light of his dream ... his dream to reread in light of the moment.
If Vincent and Louise were among us today would read how the current situation in the light of Christ who wanted to follow? What word would tell us? How to respond to new situations that we face today? What options do they?
Ours is a world radically different in many respects the world of Vincent and Louise. We pressed further questions. In a world that has created new forms of poverty, new faces
poor people what and who should be our priorities? Vincent and Louise were constantly attentive to the events as "places" to meet the Spirit. In a world obsessed with the "instant" and "super fast" How do we continue to be truly attentive and able to discern?
How does today our "service to the whole person" awareness of the profound influence of relationships, social structures and the environment on the human person? Before an almost complete reliance in technology and science, the efficiency and competition, what is the "more" than our Vincentian service can offer our contemporaries?
Ours is a world that wants to be more inclusive, go beyond the boundaries of race, ethnicity, class, gender and religion. What does this mean in practice for our work among the poor ... for our collaboration?
Our world has grown more and more secularized turning on itself ... while at the same time cares for social justice. What challenges does this mean for our Vincentian, where the vision of faith and motivation of charity are essential?
We celebrate the anniversary of the death of Vincent and Louise in the midst of an unprecedented global crisis ... moral, cultural, economic and spiritual. How are we going to reread the dream of Vincent and Louise in the light of this reality?
The people of Israel his covenant with Yahweh reread from the perspective of the crisis they experienced in exile. In doing so, rediscovered the meaning of their identity as people of God. Vicente reread the Gospel from his experience of the poor and confusion that threatened to tear the society and the Church of his time. In this sense, he discovered his vocation in life and gave birth to a dream that deeply influenced his time.
Reflect further on the accounts of the life and writings of Vincent and Louise ... listen to the questions of our time ... let us challenge for them ... look together some answers While the anniversary is to celebrate the death of Vincent and Louise. Is to keep alive his dream.
Progressing ... together
We are heirs to a great legacy ... sons and daughters of two great prophets of charity. This common heritage we are proud. Our ties are strengthened.
With a huge number of members on every continent, we as the Vincentian Family, we have great potential to make a difference in our time as Vincent and Louise did in theirs.
It tells the story of a young man, the son of a baseball star. His first season of play was disappointing. Halfway through his second season really feared was going to be cut from the team.
When I went to take the place of the batter, had a flaw in his leadoff hitter. In his second attempt, was another stroke back. The coach called time dead and the referee spoke casually to the young. When play resumed, the pitcher gave it a shot that hit outside the stadium. This was his moment.
Since then, every game we played was a great success. The coaches that had been lifted the failure of his first season asked what had changed his game.
Then he told them how the referee told him about the times he had been behind the batter's booth during the time of his father, how he had watched the game from his father and then commented:
the vocation of his life. Vincent and Louise were open to this revelation and they were guided by the Spirit.
Both Vincent and Louise have been tormented with doubts profound faith for some time ... they were real doubts "dark nights" for them. But an enlightening experience for Louise and a final decision of Vincent to serve the poor changed the course of their lives. Since then on, God was his all. They put aside their earliest dreams to follow God's call ... a call that unfolds through mediation of events and people. After placing his hand on the plow, Vincent and Louise never look back.
In an age of endless wars fought for religious and poverty policies and a philosophy that challenges any imagination, dared Vincent and Louise to dream ... a seemingly impossible dream. But with the guidance and support of Providence, with the extraordinary gifts with which nature had enriched them so generously, and with the blessing circumstances, the dream of Vincent and Louise gradually took shape. The Brotherhoods Charity, the Congregation of the Mission, the Ladies of Charity and the Daughters of Charity. While pursuing his dream with a firm conviction
Vincent and Louise lit without being aware this new trails, paths contributing significantly to renew the Church and society in seventeenth-century France ... and beyond.
Keeping his dream alive today
Remembering Vincent and Louise, we are grateful by charisma ... God gave them a charisma that founders transmitted to the Vincentian Family as a gift to the Church and the world.
Creative fidelity is the other side of gratitude for the gift of Vincent and Louise. This fidelity us back to the origins of Vincentian history ... invites us to read this in the light of his dream ... his dream to reread in light of the moment.
If Vincent and Louise were among us today would read how the current situation in the light of Christ who wanted to follow? What word would tell us? How to respond to new situations that we face today? What options do they?
Ours is a world radically different in many respects the world of Vincent and Louise. We pressed further questions. In a world that has created new forms of poverty, new faces
poor people what and who should be our priorities? Vincent and Louise were constantly attentive to the events as "places" to meet the Spirit. In a world obsessed with the "instant" and "super fast" How do we continue to be truly attentive and able to discern?
How does today our "service to the whole person" awareness of the profound influence of relationships, social structures and the environment on the human person? Before an almost complete reliance in technology and science, the efficiency and competition, what is the "more" than our Vincentian service can offer our contemporaries?
Ours is a world that wants to be more inclusive, go beyond the boundaries of race, ethnicity, class, gender and religion. What does this mean in practice for our work among the poor ... for our collaboration?
Our world has grown more and more secularized turning on itself ... while at the same time cares for social justice. What challenges does this mean for our Vincentian, where the vision of faith and motivation of charity are essential?
We celebrate the anniversary of the death of Vincent and Louise in the midst of an unprecedented global crisis ... moral, cultural, economic and spiritual. How are we going to reread the dream of Vincent and Louise in the light of this reality?
The people of Israel his covenant with Yahweh reread from the perspective of the crisis they experienced in exile. In doing so, rediscovered the meaning of their identity as people of God. Vicente reread the Gospel from his experience of the poor and confusion that threatened to tear the society and the Church of his time. In this sense, he discovered his vocation in life and gave birth to a dream that deeply influenced his time.
Reflect further on the accounts of the life and writings of Vincent and Louise ... listen to the questions of our time ... let us challenge for them ... look together some answers While the anniversary is to celebrate the death of Vincent and Louise. Is to keep alive his dream.
Progressing ... together
We are heirs to a great legacy ... sons and daughters of two great prophets of charity. This common heritage we are proud. Our ties are strengthened.
With a huge number of members on every continent, we as the Vincentian Family, we have great potential to make a difference in our time as Vincent and Louise did in theirs.
It tells the story of a young man, the son of a baseball star. His first season of play was disappointing. Halfway through his second season really feared was going to be cut from the team.
When I went to take the place of the batter, had a flaw in his leadoff hitter. In his second attempt, was another stroke back. The coach called time dead and the referee spoke casually to the young. When play resumed, the pitcher gave it a shot that hit outside the stadium. This was his moment.
Since then, every game we played was a great success. The coaches that had been lifted the failure of his first season asked what had changed his game.
Then he told them how the referee told him about the times he had been behind the batter's booth during the time of his father, how he had watched the game from his father and then commented:
"I can see their genes in you. You have your father's arms. "
We have the "genes" of Vincent and Louise. We his heart and spirit. Fidelity to his legacy urges us to move forward together ... to be prophets of charity in the world today. The global reality of today e. g. the power of giant transnational corporations, mergers and conglomerates require collective testimony. Challenges us to be not simply individual prophets, but a "family of prophets."
Sister Julia C. Neo, HC,We have the "genes" of Vincent and Louise. We his heart and spirit. Fidelity to his legacy urges us to move forward together ... to be prophets of charity in the world today. The global reality of today e. g. the power of giant transnational corporations, mergers and conglomerates require collective testimony. Challenges us to be not simply individual prophets, but a "family of prophets."
At a time when injustice has assumed a global dimension, the dream of Vincent and Louise pushes us to develop networks of charity among the Vincentian Family. Charity networks attentive to the events and the poor, creative and bold in their responses, manifest the Vincentian charism perennial novelty. They create ripples of hope for the future.
For us, Vincentian Family celebration the 350th anniversary of the death of Vincent and Louise is certainly a time of grace, a propitious time to "sink our roots deeper in love and most widely expand our branches in the mission" ... to be prophetic and generates hope. Trying to achieve.
For us, Vincentian Family celebration the 350th anniversary of the death of Vincent and Louise is certainly a time of grace, a propitious time to "sink our roots deeper in love and most widely expand our branches in the mission" ... to be prophetic and generates hope. Trying to achieve.
"It is safer than love dwell in a soul, takes possession of all his powers, not giving rest, is a fire that is constantly
active, once the person is swollen
for her, she has bewitched. "(SVP, Repeat
Prayer, August 4, 1655)
"Please continue serving our dear teachers with great sensitivity, respect and friendliness, always seeing God in them." (SLM, Letter 361, June 1653)
active, once the person is swollen
for her, she has bewitched. "(SVP, Repeat
Prayer, August 4, 1655)
"Please continue serving our dear teachers with great sensitivity, respect and friendliness, always seeing God in them." (SLM, Letter 361, June 1653)
Philippines Province
Caridad Misión Vicente Pául -Luisa de marillac-1610-2010
Comments
Post a Comment