8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

1/21

The Vision of VincentRecognizing and Responding to Christin the poor

Richard Benson, C.M.

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

2/21

Vincent for the 21st Century

Does Vincent translate into the 21st

century?

Would St. Vincent be seen as a goodCatholic today?

Would St. Vincent be seen by many

Catholics today as counter cultural?

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

3/21

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

4/21

Vincentian Spirituality

Perfection lies not in ecstasies but in

doing well the will of God.

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

5/21

Vincent didnt whine

When the demands of life seem unfair to you,

when you are exhausted and have to pull

yourself out of bed yet another time to do some

act of service, do it gladly, without counting thecost and without self-pity. For if you persevere

in serving others, in giving yourself to the poor, if

you persevere to the point of completely

spending yourself, perhaps someday the poorwill find it in their hearts to forgive you.

St. Vincent de Paul

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

6/21

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

7/21

Vincentians

Seek:

Not so much to know ABOUT Christ

But To KNOW Christ

A Vincentian is one who encounters,

recognizes and relates to Christ in all their

sisters and brothers, but especially in the

most neglected.

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

8/21

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

9/21

For every Vincentian

Faith is a relational experience, not anintellectual exercise.

Faith is a way of living that seeks anauthentic encounter with Jesus.

The Vincentian finds this encounter mostprofoundly with Jesus embodied in the

poor. Ihave come to bring the Good News to

the Poor.

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

10/21

Fr. Damien of Molokai, like Vincent,

is one who poured out his life forthe most abandoned.

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

11/21

Could I walk in the footsteps of

Vincent, Louise or Damien?

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

12/21

Vincentian Anthropology

Genesis 1:

Every Human Being is created as IMAGO DEI

in other words as an image of God.

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

13/21

Two of the Most Important

Biblical Passages for a Vincentian Mt. 25 The Last Judgment

Whenever you neglected the least of your

brothers or sisters you neglected me.

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

14/21

Acts 9: 4

Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

15/21

Vincentians are called to be:

Neighbor

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

16/21

Vincentians are:

Single Minded: Focused on THE MISSION:

TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS TO

THE POOR

Understand that THE GOOD NEWS is morethan words and can never be divorced fromeffective LOVE:

Love of Christ as expressed in an authenticspirituality

Love of Christ as encountered in the poor

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

17/21

Vincentians understand

CHARITY

Is never divorced from justice

JUSTICE Is ensuring that everyone receives what is

their due

DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE

COMMUTATIVE JUSTICE

Is both personal and social

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

18/21

Authentic Justice

Ensures that

there is a social pie everyone gets a piece

everyone gets the piece they need

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

19/21

Authentic Vincentians

Recognize and are Devoted to the Real

Presence of Christ

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

20/21

Authentic Vincentians

Are marked with:

Hope and Joy

8/6/2019 The Vision of Vincent

21/21

Lets Discuss

1. What are the three most important

characteristics of St. Vincent for you and

why?

2. How can the vision of St. Vincent make

a difference in your life?

3. How would you describe St. Vincent and

his vision to someone else?