My Turn for Lectio

St. Vincent de Paul (Simon François de Tours, 17th Century) @ www.wikipedia.org

It is my turn for Lectio Divina.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

St. Vincent de Paul

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Thru Samaria

Lectio

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. (Lk 9:51-56)

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The time for Jesus’ mission to be fulfilled was approaching. He started to go towards Jerusalem. To get there, He had to travel through the land of Samaria, an adversary of the Jews. V 53-4 They did not welcome Him, which is insulting because Middle Eastern peoples have an obligation to be hospitable towards strangers. Not only that, they knew He was a prophet on His way to Jerusalem. This means their refusal to accept a religious teacher was a rejection of His teachings. This is why Jesus’ apostles were angered at such an insult of their rabbi. V. 53-54 Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them? But in V. 55 we see that Jesus did not think or feel as His apostles did. Jesus is the Savior of all mankind, not a castigator. The Samaritans did not know who they were rejecting.

This date is also a memorial for Saint Vincent de Paul. Saint Vincent followed Christ in his treatment of all mankind equally. He built hospitals and shelters for the poor and even convicts. His love of the poor has grown into an international ministry and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society looks to him as their patron. He, along with Louise de Marillac found the Daughters of Charity. He also founded an order of priests, the Vincentians. He is known as “Apostle of Charity.”

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There are more and more people today who claim to have no religious affiliation, whatsoever. Should we bother with them? Would you ask God to rain down fire from heaven to consume them? God doesn’t punish. Remember that. Jesus spread divine goodness everywhere He went. Jesus talks to everyone, including Samaritans. The conversation takes place in words and actions, from the stable to the tomb and beyond. If you want to see divine goodness in the world today, look at Saint Vincent de Paul. Saint Vincent’s works are still carried on today by those whom follow his spirituality. They bring divine light, healing, and liberation where it is needed. Our work is to do likewise, the best that we can. With God’s grace we will also spread divine goodness.

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O God, who for the relief of the poor, and the formation of the clergy, endowed Saint Vincent de Paul with apostolic virtues, grant, we pray, that, afire with that same spirit, we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (Collect from the Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul)

Contemplatio: 

May we always strive to love and serve all of mankind.

Thru Samaria

Lectio LK 9:51-56

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.

STUDIUM

The time for Jesus’ mission to be fulfilled was approaching.  He started out to go towards Jerusalem.  To get  there, He had to travel through the land of Samaria, an adversary of the Jews.  V 53-4 They did not welcome Him, which is insulting because Middle Eastern peoples have an obligation to be hospitable towards strangers.  Not only that, they knew He was a prophet on His way to Jerusalem.  This means their refusal to accept a religious teacher was a rejection of His teachings.  This is why Jesus’ apostles were angered at such an insult of their rabbi.  V. 53-54 Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?  But in V. 55 we see that Jesus did not think or feel as His apostles did.  Jesus is the Savior of all mankind, not a castigator.  The Samaritans did not know who they were rejecting.

 Saint Vincent de Paul relates.  Saint Vincent followed Christ in his treatment of all mankind equally.  He built hospitals and shelters for the poor and even convicts.  His love of the poor has grown into an international ministry and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society looks to him as their patron.  He, along with Louise de Marillac found the Daughters of Charity.  He also founded an order of priests, the Vincentians.  He is known as “Apostle of Charity.”

MEDITATIO

There are more and more people today who claim to have no religious affiliation, whatsoever.  Should we bother with them?  Would you ask God to rain down fire from heaven to consume them?  God doesn’t punish.  Remember that.  Jesus spread divine goodness everywhere He went.  Jesus talks to everyone, including Samaritans.  The conversation takes place in words and actions, from the stable to the tomb and beyond.  If you want to see divine goodness in the world today, look at Saint Vincent de Paul.  Saint Vincent’s works are still carried on today by those whom follow his spirituality.  They bring divine light, healing, and liberation where it is needed. Our work is to do likewise, the best that we can.  With God’s grace we will also spread divine goodness.

ORATIO

O God, who for the relief of the poor, and the formation of the clergy, endowed Saint Vincent de Paul with apostolic virtues, grant, we pray, that, afire with that same spirit,
we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.  (Collect from the Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul)

CONTEMPLATIO

May we always strive to love and serve all of mankind.

Married Saints Three

I'm still on my married saints kick.  First was St. Anna-Maria and Domenico Taigi, then, Venerable Pierre and Juliette Toussaint, now I'm looking at Bl. Frederic Antoine and Amelie Ozanam.

Frederic Ozanam is known as the founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  Didn't you just assume that St. Vincent started that foundation?

He was born just after the reign of Napoleon.  In fact, his father served in Napoleon's army.  The year was 1813.  The Church had been in tough shape in France, still not recovered from being banned during the revolution. In fact, Frederic Ozanam toyed with the idea of joining Lacordaire in restoring Catholicism in France.  But he felt he was called to be married and have a family.

He was a lawyer, but it seemed he did that to please his father.  And when his father died, he continued because he needed to support his mother.  However, he was a gifted writer and wrote well enough to be awarded the Chair of Foreign Literature at  the Sorbonne.

All during his schooling and work, his hobby was religion.  When he was in college, he was appalled at the religious hostility he encountered at the university.  It seems from then on, his life's task was that of a Catholic apologist.    He was surrounded by materialism, rationalism, irreligion and anti-clericalism.  (What else is new?)

He found a few students who felt like himself.  They grouped together and formed a discussion group called a "Society of Good Studies" and formed it into a "Conference of History" which quickly became a forum for large and lively discussions.  Soon their attention turned to the social teachings of the Gospel.  At one of their meetings, someone expressed the thought that although at one time the Church was a source of good, it no longer was.  As a response, some of the group decided to go help the poor.

After this, the "Conference of History" became the "Conference of Charity" which eventually was named the "Conference of St. Vincent de Paul.  Now, instead of engaging in mere discussion and debate, they engaged in practical works of charity.  This small group grew exponentially to this day.

During this time, Frederic married Amelie Soulacroix.  They had one daughter, Marie.  It was a happy marriage and family life.  Together they lived the life of good Catholics and the beatitudes.  In 1851 Frederic contracted tuberculosis and died in 1853.

His entire life was an example of the lay apostolate in family, religion, social, and intellectual life.  It still is, which is why Pope John Paul II beatified Frederic Ozanam in 1997.

h/t Father Kevin Kraft, O.P.