Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Vincentian Spirituality

SEPTEMBER 9 FEAST DAY OF BLESSED FRÉDÉRIC OZANAM!

“Charity cannot exist in the heart of an individual unless it reaches out toward others. Charity,” he wrote, “is a fire that is extinguished when it is not maintained and good works are the nourishment of charity … but charity ought to be the means and not the end of ourassociation, which attempts to spread among young people the Christian spirit which is also the spirit of love. The gospel truth ought to be spread among young people who are the victims of so many disastrous doctrines.”

Scriptures • Jesus came to heal the sick and sinners not the healthy. • Mark 2:17 "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Vincentian: the poor • The purpose …. is to follow Christ evangelizing the poor. (Constitution 1) • Christ the evangelizer of the poor, to liberate his people from the bondage of their corporal and spiritual wounds • Luke’s gospel – “Gospel of Mercy” (Lk 6:36: “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful”)

Vincentian: the poor • Solidarity with the poor and marginalized, “our master” • “Let us work with a new love in service of the poor, looking for the most destitute and abandoned among them. Let us recognize that before God they are our Lords and masters, and we are unworthy to render them our small services.” –St. Vincent de Paul (SV XI, 393) • “My God! What a wonderful title and what a beautiful description… Servants of the Poor! It is the same as saying Servants of Jesus Christ, for He regards as done to Himself what is done to them. What did he do on earth but serve the poor?” –St. Vincent de Paul

Reciprocity of Evangelization “Help is humiliating when it appeals to men from below, taking heed of their material wants only, paying no attention abut to those of the flesh, to the cry of hunger and cold, to what excites pity, to what one succors even in the beasts. It humiliates when there is no reciprocity, when you give the poor man nothing but bread, or clothes, or a bundle of straw – what, in fact, there is no likelihood of his ever giving you in return…

Reciprocity of Evangelization …but it honors when it appeals from above, when it occupies itself with his soul, his religious, moral and political education, with all that emancipates him from his passions, and may make him great. Help honors when to the bread that nourishes it adds the visit that consoles, that advice that enlightens, the friendly shake of the hand that with respect, not only as an equal but as a superior, since he is suffering what perhaps we are incapable of suffering; since he is the messenger of God to us, sent to prove our justice and our charity, and to save us by our works.” (O’Meara, Life and Works, 176-7). (Ramson, Praying with Frederic Ozanam 93)

What Is Vincentian Spirituality? Vincentians Seek: • Through Prayer • Meditation on the Scriptures • The Teaching of the Church • Through Their Daily Lives • In Their Relationship With Those in Need to Bear Witness to the Love of Christ Rule: Part I Articles 2.4 & 2.5 Manual: Section 3.2 Pages 56 -66 Go To Next Slide

Prayer • This is How You are to Pray: (Matt. 6:9-13) • Prayer is Essential to Being a Vincentian • Open and Close All Meetings with a Prayer, Reflection and Discussion • Pray Before and After a Home Visit • Pray with Those We Serve • Partake in the Eucharist Frequently to Sustain Us in Our Vincentian Activities Matthew 6:9-13 Manual: Section 3.3 Page 65 Go To Next Slide

Call to Holiness • Vincentians Should be Grounded in Sacred Scriptures • Jesus Reading from the Scroll and Announcing Fulfillment of the Scriptures (Luke 4:16-21) • The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-11) • Whatever You do for the Least of My Brothers and Sisters , You did it for Me (Matthew 25:34-41) • The Good Samaritan Luke 10:33 - 37 Matthew 5:2-11 Luke 4:16-21 Matthew 25:34-41 Luke 10:33-37 Manual: Section 3.3 Pages 59-66 Go To Next Slide

Vincentian Virtues • Simplicity • Humility • Gentleness • Selflessness • Zeal Rule: Part I Article 2.5.1 Go To Next Slide

Charity and Justice • Love One Another (Luke 10:25-28; John 13:34-35) • Love of Christ Impels Us to the Poor , Whose Rights Demand Our Response. • The poor have the right to daily bread • The poor have the right to health • The poor have the right to dignity and hope • The poor in prison have the right to respect • The poor have the right to shelter • The poor have the right to care in their old age • The poor have the right to work • The poor have the right to education Rule: Part I Articles 7.1 – 7.9 John 13:34-35 Luke 10:25-28 Manual: Section 3.3 Page 63 Go To Next Slide

Catholic Social Teaching’s - USCCB • Life and Dignity of the Human Person • Call to Family, Community and Participation • Rights and Responsibilities • Option for the Poor and Vulnerable • The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers • Solidarity • Care of Gods Creation Serving In Hope Module IV: Sec. 4.2 – 4.6 Go To Next Slide

Divine Providence • Trust In and Reliance On Divine Providence • Frederic Believed That God Was Acting in His Life and the Lives of Others • Frederic’s Words: “Our Little Society Has Grown Large Enough To Be A Providential Fact” Go To Next Slide

Thank you. Return OO Presentation Agenda

Society of St. Vincent de Paul