SEPTEMBER 2013 MONTHLY REFLECTION “AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME” (Matthew 25:40)
St. Vincent de Paul Feast Day: 27 September Patron of Divine-Potta Ministry
"St. Vincent de Paul is known as the heavenly patron of all charitable works in the Church. However as the saying goes, “He did not become a saint because of his adventurous charitable activities; rather he could commit himself to such voluminous charitable ventures because he was a saint.” His saintly heart could not remain indifferent to the miseries of the common people around him. It was his heart that was extraordinarily saintly and not merely the working of his hands."
"History records that Vincent de Paul was not born a saint - neither were his intentions saintly when he opted for the priestly vocation. Priesthood was not so much a loving surrender to Godliness in those dark Middle Ages, rather, it was an option for easy and secured living from a very materialistic point of view. Radical changes came into his life due to the many adversities that moulded his heart after the very Heart of Jesus."
"As his spiritual services for the poor became widely known and accepted, he was also being identified by the royalty of France for his deep spirituality. He used his influence with the higher circles of society to sensitize them to their responsibility to the poor. “Go to the poor: you will find God,” was his bold directive to them. We need to remember that during this Dark Age in Europe, the poor were despised and exploited by the rich with no qualm of conscience...It was at this juncture that God raised up Vincent de Paul to be the champion of the marginalized."
"St. Vincent de Paul insisted that his followers should not imagine themselves as mere philanthropists, going about doing works of charity. They should most importantly sit at the Feet of the Lord to recapture their love and commitment for God. This experience of compassion was clearly to be recognized as the fruit of their relationship with God. The work of the Congregation increased and multiplied until it seemed almost too much for human capacity. But Vincent knew therein lay the strength of the Mission Priests."
"This ‘Great Apostle of Charity’ knew in the intense moments of his prayer that his call was not only to care for the material needs of the poor. In order to bring about total wellbeing to their lives, one’s spiritual life was to be renewed in the Love of God."
Grant us, O Lord, a heart filled with holy zeal to proclaim Your Word to every person you send into our lives and to expemplify Your love through our deeds and actions!"
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