I describe myself as having an Ignatian spirituality combined with a strong commitment to the Vincentian charism, the latter being a product of the fact that I spent 14 years teaching at a law school that was part of a Vincentian university – St. John’s University in NY – before moving to Minneapolis last summer. During that time I was privileged to become friends with and learn from some inspiring members of the Vincentian family.
The thing about St. Vincent de Paul that is so compelling is that he internlized so completely the message Jesus tried to convey to his disciples through the judgment parable in Matthew 25. Jesus tells those who will be saved: when I was hungry, you fed me; when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink; when I was sick you ministered to me; when I was in prison you visited me. When those saved ask him in confusion when they did any of those good things, the response is: “whatever you did for the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” What determines whether one will be saved is: did you recognize Christ in the face of those in need and respond to that need.
The heritage of Vincent is a spirituality based on evangelizing the poor - on seeing the face of Christ in the poor and the marginalized of the world. That spirituality is manifest in the work of the ordained, religious and lay members of that community.
There was a large Vincentian family gathering in New Orleans two weeks ago. The closing prayer included a video entitled A Place at the Table, created by a Daughter of Charity. I think the video makes for a beautiful meditation on Jesus’ message in the judgment passage in Matthew. It can be accessed here.
