The Novena in honor of Saint Vincent de Paul begins In many parts of the world today. cmglobal.org join this spiritual tribute to the Saint of Charity and therefore we will be publishing texts of the Novena you can follow in languages of our site. A group of priests, seminarians and lay people from the Province of Colombia contributed to this project and Association Corazón de Paúl coordinated it. We thank Felipe Saavedra, student of Villa Paúl major Seminary, Colombia, and translators: Charlie Plock, C.M., English, Fr. Dario Ragona, C.M., Sister Lucia Campanelli, D.C., Sister Gabriella Panebianco, D.C., Italian, and Emilie Vas, French for their commitment and work.
First Day: The Christ of Saint Vincent de Paul
Symbol: A crucifix, a collage that depicts various realities of poverty, the Bible. It is suggested that during the time of the Novena a statue or an image of Vincent de Paul be placed in a visible place.
Opening hymn:
Scripture
A reading from the gospel according to Saint Luke (Luke 4:18-21)
Jesus unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” The word of God
Let us listen to the words of Vincent de Paul
I must not judge a poor peasant man or woman by their appearance or their apparent intelligence, especially since very often they scarcely have the expression or the mind of rational persons, so crude and vulgar they are. But turn the medal, and you will see by the light of faith that the Son of God, who willed to be poor, is represented to us by these poor people; that he scarcely had a human face in his passion and passed for a madman in the mind of the Gentiles and a stumbling block in the mind of the Jews. With all that, he describes himself as the Evangelizer of the poor: he has sent me to proclaim good news to the poor (CCD:XI:26).
Reflection:
Vincent’s faith experience should not surprise us, but rather it should challenge us to not judge by appearances. We are immersed in a society that values people for what they “have” … external beauty is given greater importance than a noble heart. Jesus has told us that he is with the poor, with those who are view as the “least”, with those who are hungry and naked. The poor are a starting point for any theological reflection and are also the Church’s treasure. Poverty should not only move us to be compassionate and to assist those who are in need but should also motivate us to attack the roots of those unjust and oppressive structures and to walk in solidarity with those who suffer.
The Kingdom of God is revealed in the liberation of those who are oppressed, in the blind who can now see, and in the poor who can now hear the good news. Vincent was able to move from contemplation of the crucified Christ to action on behalf of the neighbor in whom he saw the face of the suffering Christ. The Christ of Vincent de Paul impels us to build up the people of God, impels us to not only analyze present day problems but to also engage in the task of building a better world in which God becomes more visible. We need God! It is impossible to quiet God when he is crying out because of all the offenses of the human family. God invites us to speak out and to touch the hearts of those walking through the dark hours of their life of faith.
Questions:
[1] What commitment have I made to build up the kingdom of God in the midst of my family and/or community?
[2] In what way am I contributing to the Church’s mission of evangelization?
[3] As a member of the Vincentian Family what commitment have I made to help the poor in a spiritual and in a material manner?
[4] The persons whom I help in my ministry, do they in turn become Christ’s witnesses and missionaries?
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Translator’s Notes with regard to the English Edition
All references to the writings of Vincent de Paul are taken from:
Vincent de Paul, Correspondence, Conference, Documents, translators: Helen Marie Law, DC (Vol. 1), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 1-13b), James King, CM (Vol. 1-2), Francis Germovnik, CM (Vol. 1-8, 13a-13b [Latin]), Esther Cavanagh, DC (Vol. 2), Ann Mary Dougherty, DC (Vol. 12); Evelyne Franc, DC (Vol. 13a-13b), Thomas Davitt, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Glennon E. Figge, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), John G. Nugent, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Andrew Spellman, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]); edited: Jacqueline Kilar, DC (Vol. 1-2), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 2-13b), Julia Denton, DC [editor-in-chief] (Vol. 3-10, 13a-13b), Paule Freeburg, DC (Vol. 3), Mirian Hamway, DC (Vol. 3), Elinor Hartman, DC (Vol. 4-10, 13a-13b), Ellen Van Zandt, DC (Vol. 9-13b), Ann Mary Dougherty (Vol. 11-12); annotated: John W. Carven, CM (Vol. 1-13b); New City Press, Brooklyn and Hyde Park, 1985-2009.
References to this work are inserted into the text using the initials [CCD] followed by the volume number, followed by the page number.
References to the biography of Louis Abelly are taken from:
Louis Abelly, The Life of the Venerable Servant of God Vincent de Paul: Founder and First Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, 3 vol., edited by John E. Rybolt, CM, translated by William Quinn, FSC, notes by Edward R. Udovic, CM and John E. Rybolt, CM, introduction by Stafford Poole, CM, New City Press, New Rochelle, New York, 1993.
References to this work are insert5ed into the text in the following manner: Abelly: followed by the volume number, followed by the page number.
All Scripture references are taken from:
The New American Bible published by the Catholic Book Publishing Company, New York, 1970.
This edition of the Bible is found on line at:
