Celebration of the Eucharist
In Thanksgiving for the Beatification of the Vincentian Martyrs November 12, 2017: Santa María, Cathedral of Almudena
During these days we are constantly being reminded of the manner in which Vincent de Paul, as a result of two decisive experiences (Folleville and Chatillon), discovered the need forcharityand the mission …two realities that if they are lived in a radical manner, can lead people to the greatest proof of their love: martyrdom. Yes, charity and mission are two fundamental constitutive elements for the members of the Vincentian Family, elements that have remained fresh and dynamic as a result of the faithful lives many members of the Vincentian Family.
This missionary perspective and this option for the those most in need provide us with a context in which we can situate the courageous witness of those persons who, yesterday, were declared “Blessed”. Those men and women, with great serenity, did not hesitate to profess their faith in the Risen Jesus and did not hesitate to defend the gospel values as they followed the example of Jesus and forgave their executioners.
Our Founder, Vincent de Paul, affirmed that is what a Christian is made of, and that is the courage we must have in order to suffer and to die, when necessary, for Jesus Christ (CCD:XI:290). Today, in the name of the worldwide Vincentian Family and especially in the name of the members of the Vincentian Family in Spain, I want to thank God for the witness of the forty missionaries of the Congregation of the Mission, proclaimers of the gospel and apostles of charity; the two Daughters of Charity, dedicated nurses who cared for those persons afflicted with tuberculosis; the five diocesan priests, directors and animators of the Daughters of Charity and the members of the Association of the Children of Mary in various towns in Murcia and the thirteen lay members of the Association of the Children of Mary and the Miraculous Medal Association in Madrid and Cartagena.
I ask Jesus, the Lord, the Evangelizer, and Servant of the poor that the grace of the Beatification that we have celebrated and lived might become a new incentive for even greater fidelity. Hopefully, we are able to live out our vocation in a creative manner in the midst of a world filled with so much unbelief, filled with people who are hostile to the faith, filled with so many people who do not know Jesus Christ, filled with so many people living in situations of misery. Thus the daily living out of our lives from the perspective of the words and the deeds of our new Blessed men and women is precisely what the Church and the world expects of us as Vincentians.
As we continue this liturgy of thanksgiving let us engrave on our hearts the words of Saint Vincent:Remember that we live in Jesus Christ through the death of Jesus Christ, and we must die in Jesus Christ through the life of Jesus Christ, and our life must be hidden in Jesus Christ and filled with Jesus Christ, and in order to die as Jesus Christ, we must live in Jesus Christ (CCD:I:276).
Translated: Charles T. Plock, CM Philadelphia Province, USA
