May the grace and peace of Jesus be always with us!
We formally started the preparation for the 4th centennial celebration of the Foundation of the Congregation of the Mission with an Opening Rite at the Leonine College in Rome on 17 April 2023. The Opening Rite was part of a Program entitled “Put on the Spirit of Christ: 4th Centenary of the Foundation of the CM” that was sent to the whole Congregation. The Program also contained an Examen of Conscience and various themes for our reflection in the next two years.
In line with our celebration, which is the “revitalization of our identity,” I wish to remind everyone of us of some spiritual practices that are very much part of our Spirituality and part of some of the principal foundations handed down to us by our Holy Founder. I shared these foundations in some of my past letters, some of these are contained in the Final Document (Priority: Spirituality) of the 43rd General Assembly, but, most of all, these spiritual practices are mentioned in our Common Rules, as well as in our Constitutions (Chapter IV, Prayer).
In taking to heart the revitalization of our identity, it is very clear that, first of all, we need to revitalize our identity in the field of our Spirituality, starting with the most basic areas and then continuing to build our Spiritual house ever bigger and stronger. Putting into daily practice the areas listed in this letter is so important and the most effective way forward. Therefore, every one of us, every confrere of the Little Company, must respond personally to the following question: How am I putting into daily practice the points of our Spirituality listed in this letter? In thirsting for a new Pentecost within our Congregation, we must respond to every single point.
If, as a member of the Congregation, I am not putting into practice some of the points of our Spiritual life, I cannot come to another conclusion or decision, but the need to start immediately to include all of them in my spiritual life. If our foundations are not solid, not built on rock, all the rest that we may try to build in the areas of our Spirituality and Charism will, in fact, be built on sand. In the end, this will not bring us to the so-desired revitalization of our identity, personal and common conversion, and a new Pentecost in our Congregation.
In our common pilgrimage to help us reach this goal, I ask the Visitors, Regional Superiors, Superiors of the International Missions, and local Superiors to encourage, support, and make sure that every confrere and every community implement the following Spiritual foundations:
- Daily prayer. According to Saint Vincent prayer is “the living source of the spiritual life of a missioner” (C 41). Our Constitutions propose the celebration of morning and evening prayer in common (C 45, § 3), spending one hour in daily meditation (half an hour in common and, if possible, half an hour in private). “Give me a man of prayer” Saint Vincent said, “and he’ll be able to do anything” (CCD XI, 76).
- Daily Eucharistic celebration. Our Constitutions (C 45, § 1) also remind us about the daily celebration of the Eucharist, the “living source” from which “flows the power of our apostolic activity and fraternal communion.”
- The frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation for “continual conversion and authenticity of vocation” (C 45, § 2).
- Regular reading of the Word of God, Common Rules, and Constitutions (CR XII, 14). Our Common Rules and Constitutions advise us to strive continually for a deeper knowledge of our spirit by returning to the gospel and to the example and teaching of Saint Vincent (C 8).
- Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Second Vatican Council presents Mary as an outstanding model of faith and charity (LG 53) and Saint Vincent exhorts us to have a special devotion to Our Lady (C 49, §1 and § 2).
- Spiritual Direction. Our tradition urges us, as an aid on life’s journey, to speak simply and confidentially with a spiritual director about our joys and sorrows, our daily struggles, and our successes and failures. Saint Vincent often spoke of the need for spiritual direction. He recommended it at least several times a year (cf., CR X, 11). I encourage each confrere, if he has not continued it, to renew this holy practice for the good of his soul and the souls of the persons he is missioned to serve.
- Recollections and/or retreats on Vincentian Spirituality themes. During these next two years, let us make sure to organize annual retreats (C 47, § 2) around Vincentian themes, taking the reflections I sent to you as guides. With this purpose, I sent you some guides of Vincentian themes from a prophetic, missionary, and synodal dimension. You also may, of course, use other Vincentian materials for this purpose.
Authentic revitalization implies interior change or conversion. It is a spiritual experience of progressive identification with Jesus, the Evangelizer of the poor. Saint Vincent and the confreres who came before us employed the practices outlined above to assist them on the road to conversion. Far from dismissing them as outdated, these practices remain relevant and useful today for our growth in holiness.
May our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Saint Vincent the Paul, and all the Vincentian saints and blessed, accompany us in our spiritual journey toward a new Pentecost.
Your brother in Saint Vincent,
Tomaž Mavrič, CM
Superior General
