This Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul call us to honor and imitate the patron of charitable societies
Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul (September 27, 2021): ZEC 8:1-8; PS 102:16-18,19-21,29,22-23; LK 9:46-50
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
“Our vocation is to go … to set people’s hearts on fire, to do what the Son of God did. He came to set the world on fire in order to inflame it with His love.”
St. Vincent de Paul went from wanting to live a comfortable life as a priest with good connections and an interesting job, to dedicating his life to relieving the burdens of those crushed by poverty, sickness, injustice and other suffering. Born in 1580 to a poor French farming family, he had the opportunity to attend school and then study for the Church. He was ordained at age 19. He worked as a tutor and was eventually hired by a wealthy, prominent family. He frequently traveled with them to their estates and it was during this time that he heard the confession of a dying peasant. This encounter changed Vincent’s life. He then made every effort to assist the poor in their needs. He obtained the material support of many rich people, as well as inspiring many others to assist his work. Lay groups volunteering in parishes were followed by an order of priests, the Congregation of the Mission, and an order of nuns, the Daughters of Charity, founded along with St. Louise de Marillac. No person in need seemed beyond the range of Vincent’s service. All he did was for Christ. According to him, “Our vocation is to go … to set people’s hearts on fire, to do what the Son of God did. He came to set the world on fire in order to inflame it with His love.”
In 1660, St. Vincent de Paul died at age 80, venerated by many, both poor and rich, for his tender care of the most vulnerable. Like so many saints, he spent himself in turning love for Christ into action. He not only inspired people of his own times, he also touched the lives of millions in centuries to come. Blessed Frederic Ozanam and six others founded a lay organization in 1833 to continue sharing the love of Christ and work of St. Vincent far and wide: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, serving in 153 countries.
Suggested missionary action: Let us petition the help of St. Vincent de Paul in serving our neighbors in justice and mercy. We can see in him a great example of someone who used each day to praise the Lord by improving the lives of others.