1. The essence of our Vincentian vocation is to live in fidelity
The spirituality of the worldwide Vincentian Family is rooted in fidelity to the charism of Saint Vincent de Paul. That ought to be the starting point as well as the source of on-going inspiration and commitment as we continue to develop, carry out and evaluate our various pastoral ministries and our lifestyle as missionaries.
Recent ecclesial and Vincentian documents insist on the importance of creative fidelity in order to give meaning and strength to our missionary vocation. To share in the heritage of Saint Vincent is a radical commitment that we have made … and as a result we need a powerful will to fulfill that commitment and at the same time we need a spirituality that will nourish and deepen us in that conviction. The grace of fidelity is a gift of God that is bestowed upon us through the mediatory intercession of Jesus Christ, the missionary of the Father. Such was Vincent’s insight and the manner in which he lived that spirituality during the seventeenth century.
Faithfulness is not passive perseverance but rather a stimulus to live in a state of perfection and to renew ourselves in such a way that we are able to overcome the temptation of routine and luke-warmness, the temptation to retreat into our comfort zone rather than reach out and respond to the needs of the Church and the Congregation. Faithfulness implies clothing ourselves in attitudes that arise as a result of reading the signs of the time. Boldly interpreting those signs and clothing ourselves in those attitudes should always be a part of our missionary response
In order to make real our missionary vocation, it is necessary to analyze events from the perspective of life’s movement which is revealed in reflecting upon the past, evaluating that which is positive and revitalizing that which is positive. Thus, we are able to overcome the shadows that loom in the sea of human weakness and limitation. All of this is important as we reflect upon our commitment in the midst of a society that demands discernment and courage in light of so many different options that life offers us (many of which might well be in harmony with the gospel and our Vincentian spirit while others might be opposed to the gospel and our spirit). It is also important to view the future with hope and joy and optimism and to project those same realities in our activity and objectives and lifestyle.
Each one of us, in the different stages of life, are called to live in fidelity to the heritage of our vocation. The vigor and the dreams of youth contribute to creative and fruitful expectations. Maturity provides experience and demands that we live in on-going fidelity in order to be able to confront new challenges. Old age, accepted with calmness and an understanding of physical and mental limitations, far from becoming a burden and a pain for the community, can instead enable us to become an example for a younger generation.
The diversity of ages, lifestyles, ways of thinking and acting provides us with an opportunity for growth (creating a unity in the midst of our diversity). In line with Pauline teaching, each one of us is able to place our gifts and charisms at the service of the mission and at the service of other men and women. To grow in self-esteem, in confidence in God and in our own possibilities … all of these are attitudes that strengthen our personal maturity and interior growth. Saint Vincent de Paul and so many missionaries throughout history have been characterized by their availability, generosity and boldness in confronting new challenges and engage in new works … and doing all of this in order to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
We have the example of many missionaries who, despite their limitations and imperfections, continued to grow in their vocation and lived in accord with the gospel and the Vincentian charism. They embraced their vocation and they gave witness through the manner in which they lived and acted.
Nevertheless, there are certain dangers that threaten fidelity and therefore, we must be constantly alert and vigilant with regard these threats, threats such as insincerity, a lack of transparency and integrity and long-term commitments, a lack of perseverance and conviction … all of these are temptations that can easily become a part of our lifestyle.
In order to overcome these temptations, we need to reaffirm the mystical and spiritual dimension of our life. The need for a God who accompanies us and moves us forward, personal and community prayer, participation in the Eucharist and Reconciliation, reflecting on the virtues of Mary and the life of Vincent de Paul … all of these will provide us with insight for our missionary journey.
2. Some lines of action to promote creative fidelity in our missionary life
*** To have a profound experience of God and the presence of the Spirit in our journey in order to confront discouragement and the tension that arises from responding to the urgent needs of people and from what we are able to offer people as a result of our generous commitment.
*** To be aware of the present impact of the charism of Saint Vincent on the reality in which we live and to also be aware of the manner in which we, from the perspective of humility and a spirit of service and love for the church, can be active instruments of change.
*** From the perspective of simplicity and calmness and solidarity with the poor, to give witness through out example.
*** To act with a sense of generosity and availability, giving priority to the needs of the Church rather than our own particular interests and concerns.
*** To be attentive to and vigilant with regard to the new and urgent forms of poverty which are found in the midst of our present society. To listen to the call of Pope Francis (especially with regard to immigrants) and to welcome, protect, promote and integrate those individuals who find themselves in such a situation.
*** In light of a competitive society and a society that excludes more and more people, to awaken in ourselves a critical sense that can reflect on that reality as well as on the fact that reality is often manipulated by the means of communication and by those who have money and power.
*** To value people over structures and with regard to structures, to evaluate them in light of the objectives that they hope to achieve.
*** To grow in effectiveness and organizational unity and to create channels for communication and mutual support among the different branches of FAVI in order to be able to respond effectively to the needs of the poor and to the various situations that we encounter on a daily basis.
*** From the perspective of our Vincentian identity and spirituality, to develop, execute and evaluate on-going formation and service projects which involve us as active participants.
*** To become ever more convinced of the importance of working with networks which demands planning at the initial stages and also requires organization so that the ministry rather than personalities takes center stage.
*** To deepen our commitment to the development of three dimensions with are the basis for our Vincentian identity, membership and commitment: [1] a sound spirituality based on the following of Jesus Christ who reached out and served those who were most poor; [2] an on-going and renewed formation to support those who are poor and to do this from the perspective of the challenges of an ever more demanding society; [3] a bold, courageous and decisive missionary commitment.
But what sort of men will turn us away from those good works already begun? They will be undisciplined, undisciplined, undisciplined men who seek only to enjoy themselves and, provided they have enough to eat, do not bother about anything else. And who else? They’ll be … I’d rather not say … they will be men who coddle themselves (as he said this, he folded his arms, mimicking lazy men), people who have only a narrow outlook, confining their perspective and plans to a certain circumference within which they shut themselves away, so to speak, in one spot; they do not want to leave it, and if they are shown something outside it and go near to have a look, they immediately go back to their center, like snails into their shells (CCD:XII:81).
Fr. Pedro Guillen, CM
Province of Peru
Translated:
A Member of the Vincentian Family
