Many of the saints are represented in painting and sculpture carrying their symbol. St John the Baptist has a lamb, St Peter carries the keys, St Anthony carries the Infant Jesus, St Therese has her … Read More
Repetition of Prayer
In the chapel of the old St Lazare, twice or more a week, towards the end of morning prayer, St Vincent would gather his confrères around himself. He would then call upon them to share … Read More
St Vincent, the Common Rules and the Individual Confrère
Much effort has gone into research, discussion and writing about Vincent’s thinking on the evangelisation of the poor and on the formation of the clergy. A proportionate amount of effort does not seem to have … Read More
St Vincent, Vatican II and our new Constitutions
When I began this article it did not occur to me to consult the Constitutions, but as I went along I was irresistibly drawn to them, finding to my surprise that they answered most of … Read More
The founders’ historical context: chronology of events
SAINT VINCENT POLITICS RELIGION ARTS & LITERATURE 1581 Birth of SVP in Pouy (Landes) Birth of Saint-Cyran Montaigne, Essays 1582 Death of Saint Teresa of Avila 1585 Death of Gregory XIII and election of Sixtus … Read More
Vincent de Paul: Minister of Restlessness
The first time I heard the expression: “Le prêtre doit être ministre de I’inquiétude” (the priest ought to be a minister of restlessness) was in a lecture by a Belgian priest in U.C.D. in 1965. … Read More
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (José Antonio Pagola)
IN THE SAME DIRECTION Before he begins to recount Jesus’ activities, Luke wants to make very clear to his readers what is the passion that drives the Prophet from Galilee and what is the goal … Read More
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Rosalino Reyes Dizon)
Evangelize the poor with certainty Jesus has been sent to evangelize the poor. God anointed him with the Spirit for this mission. But to evangelize is not something “spiritual” in the sense of “unreal” or … Read More
The Social Conscience of Vincent de Paul
Introduction As far as the poor were concerned, the social fabric of seventeenth-century France was a tapestry of loathing, fear and of repressive measures. The first part of this article traces the development of these … Read More
For your love alone
Paris was burning. The French themselves had set it on fire. Great piles of gray, yellow and black smoke poured from some of the city’s magnificent buildings, bearing on their filthy billows, the harsh odors … Read More