Epiphany, a feast that celebrates the manifestation of God as human in Jesus Christ, offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the spirituality and legacy of St. Vincent de Paul. This celebration, which recalls the visit of the Magi to the Child Jesus, is deeply intertwined with the values and teachings of St Vincent, founder of the Congregation of the Mission.
Epiphany and the Search for God
Epiphany, celebrating the manifestation of the Divine in Jesus Christ, is intrinsically linked to the search for God, a central theme in the life and work of St Vincent de Paul. This festivity recalls the visit of the Magi, emblematic figures of a profound spiritual quest, who set out following a star to find and adore the Child Jesus. This journey of the Magi symbolises humanity’s incessant search for a deeper contact with the Divine.
St Vincent de Paul, founder of the Congregation of the Mission, lived his life in a constant search for God through service to others, especially the poor and marginalised. His spirituality was based on the conviction that by serving the less fortunate, one served Christ himself. This principle is deeply rooted in the Epiphany narrative: just as the Magi recognised and worshipped Christ in a humble child, St. Vincent taught that we encounter God in the humblest situations and the neediest people.
Epiphany invites us to reflect on how we can follow our spiritual quest. It encourages us to look beyond outward appearances and find God’s presence in circumstances and people we might easily overlook or ignore. In this sense, Epiphany is not only a celebration of a historical event, but also a timely reminder of our call to seek God in all aspects of our lives.
Moreover, Epiphany reminds us that our search for God is not a journey we make alone. Just as the Magi came together on their journey, we too are called to seek God in community, supporting each other on our spiritual journey. This community aspect of the search for God is another point of contact with Vincentian spirituality, which emphasises the importance of community and shared service.
In conclusion, Epiphany and the search for God are intimately intertwined. They remind us that our faith is not static, but an ongoing journey towards a deeper understanding and richer experience of God’s presence in our lives and in the world around us. St Vincent de Paul, with his life dedicated to the service of others, offers us an inspiring model of how we can live this journey.
Epiphany and the Call to Charity
Pope Francis, in his homilies and speeches on Epiphany, emphasises the call to a life of service and charity. In his [2014 homily](https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/homilies/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140106_omelia-epifania.html), he speaks of ‘holy cunning’, a wisdom that enables us to recognise and serve Christ in the needy. This message resonates with the work of St Vincent, who dedicated his life to serving the poor, seeing in them the face of Christ.
Epiphany and the Family
Christmas and Epiphany place a special emphasis on the family. The Congregation of the Mission, following the teachings of St. Vincent, sees the family as a fundamental place for the practice of Christian charity. As described in the article on [cmglobal.org](https://cmglobal.org/it/2023/12/24/san-vincenzo-e-il-natale-2023/), the family is the nucleus where love, care and compassion are lived daily. Epiphany, celebrating the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, invites us to reflect on how we can embody the spirit of charity and service in our families.
Epiphany and Service to the Poor
Epiphany, reminding us of the gifts of the Magi to Jesus, invites us to consider how we can offer our gifts to the less fortunate. The Mission Congregation calls us to renew our commitment to the poor and marginalised, recognising in them the face of Christ. This commitment is an echo of the journey of the Magi, who left their kingdoms to worship and honour a king in a stable.
Epiphany and the Three Spiritual Gifts of the Magi
In the Epiphany narrative, the Magi not only offer material gifts to Jesus, but they in turn receive spiritual gifts of great significance. Pope Francis highlights these gifts as the call, discernment and surprise, each of which carries a profound spiritual teaching that resonates with the mission and vision of St. Vincent de Paul.
The Gift of the Calling
The Magi heard the call to undertake their journey not through scripture or angelic visions, but by observing the stars. This symbolises how God calls us through our deepest aspirations and greatest desires, urging us to seek the Lord outside our comfort zones. This call reflects St. Vincent’s invitation to recognise and respond to the needs of the poor, seeing in this service a path to God.
The Gift of Discernment
On their journey, the Magi are confronted by King Herod, but they are not deceived by his evil intentions. The gift of discernment helps them to distinguish between the true goal of their journey and the temptations they encounter along the way. This gift is fundamental to Vincentian spirituality, which requires the ability to see beyond appearances and recognise Christ in the poor and marginalised.
The Gift of Surprise
Finally, the Magi, after a long journey, find a child with his mother in a scene of humility and poverty. This surprise leads them to recognise the face of God in an unexpected situation. This gift of surprise is a call to remain open to the countless ways in which God can manifest Himself in our lives, often in the most humble and surprising ways, a principle that St Vincent de Paul lived and taught through his tireless service to the needy.
These spiritual gifts received by the Magi are a powerful reminder that our journey of faith is studded with unexpected callings, requires constant discernment, and continually surprises us with God’s presence in the most humble and everyday situations. St Vincent de Paul, in his life and ministry, embodied these gifts, showing us how we can live them in our daily search for a deeper relationship with God and in our service to others.
Vincentian Epiphany
Epiphany, with its rich symbolism and meanings, offers us a lens through which we can see and live Vincentian values. It invites us to a deep search for God, to a renewed commitment to charity and service, and to recognise the sacredness of the family as a place of love and service. This year, as we celebrate Epiphany, may we be inspired by the life and teachings of St. Vincent de Paul, committing ourselves to live with greater love and compassion towards all, especially the neediest among us.
Girolamo Grammatico
Communication Office
