They shall be my people, and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice.” –   ZEC 8: 8

 

Today the Universal Church once again celebrates another of our well-known Saints, St Vincent de Paul.  Born to a peasant family. A highly intelligent youth, Vincent spent four years with the Franciscan friars at Acq, France getting an education. He would share his knowledge as a tutor to children of a gentlemen in Acq. He began Divinity studies in 1596 at the University of Toulouse and was ordained at the age of 20.  Taken captive by Turkish pirates to Tunis and sold into slavery. Freed in 1607 when he converted one of his owners to Christianity.

Returning to France, he served as parish priest near Paris where he started organizations to help the poor, nursed the sick, found jobs for the unemployed, as well as many other acts of mercy for those in need. Chaplain at the court of Henry IV of France. With Louise de Marillac, founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity. Instituted the Congregation of Priests of the Mission or Lazarists. St Vincent de Paul always worked for the poor, the enslaved, the abandoned, the ignored, the pariahs.

 

There is no need to say anymore but let St Vincent de Paul’s words give us the insights we need:

❦ “Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord's words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. Now who denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ better than he who seeks not to do his own will, but always that of God? Behold, now, how little is needed to become a Saint? Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing, on every occasion, what God wills.”

❦ “The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it.”

❦ “Free your mind from all that troubles you; God will take care of things. You will be unable to make haste in this (choice) without, so to speak, grieving the heart of God, because he sees that you do not honor him sufficiently with holy trust. Trust in him, I beg you, and you will have the fulfillment of what your heart desires.”

❦ “Human nature grows tired of always doing the same thing, and it is God's will that this, because of the opportunity of practicing two great virtues. The first is perseverance, which will bring us to our goal. The other is steadfastness, which overcomes the difficulties on the way.”

❦ “Humility and charity are the two master-chords: one, the lowest; the other, the highest; all the others are dependent on them. Therefore, it is necessary, above all, to maintain ourselves in these two virtues; for observe well that the preservation of the whole edifice depends on the foundation and the roof.”

 

Are we ready to humble ourselves and to serve as St Vincent de Paul did following the way of Jesus?

"Lord Jesus, your grace knows no bounds. You give freely to the humble of heart and you grant us freedom to love and serve others selflessly. May my love for you express itself in an eagerness to do good for others."

 

May God’s Grace and Blessings Always be with you and yours!!  Our Lady of Guadalupe – Pray for us!!  

 

Yours in Christ,

Deacon Bob

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX