Reconciliation and the Society of St Vincent de Paul

 

By Terry McCann

Someone asked me: How do we help our members understand why reconciliation is something the SSVP needs to address?

Do we have a better way to address the meme in the above picture?

Jesus says in Matthew 5:23-24 "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

The way I see it, we do not serve Christ in the poor because we are Vincentians, but we become Vincentians the easier to serve Christ in the poor because we are disciples of Jesus the Christ. We Vincentians hunger and thirst for justice not because we are Vincentians but because we are Christians, followers of Jesus. As Vincentians we strive to be peacemakers because we are Christ's disciples.

The Latin word for peace is pax; the Greek word is eirene. For the Romans and the Greeks all you needed for peace was not to be at war. 

The Hebrew and Middle Eastern words for peace are shalom, salaam. This word implies being in good relationship, reconciled.

Unfortunately the English word for peace has none of the connotations of shalom-peace, which is why we have to add the word reconciliation when we talk about justice and peace, and we have to add the word truth when we talk about reconciliation. There is a progression from truth to justice, reconciliation, peace; no shortcuts.

St Vincent de Paul said there is no charity without justice. 
https://famvin.org/en/2020/11/12/there-is-no-charity-without-justice-st-vincent-de-paul/

I think that we need to get over ourselves as Vincentians. We are not super-Christians, a cut above the rest. We are ordinary Christians doing what Christ calls all his followers to do in the beatitudes and in Matthew 25. The structures of the Society simply make it easier for us individuals not to have to invent ways and means to practice the works of mercy.

Let me reproduce a story about a stolen bicycle by Father Mxolisi Mpambani as told by Antjie Krog in Chapter 10 of her book, Country of my Skull, which deals with the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, post apartheid.

Once there were two boys, Tom and Bernard. Tom lived right opposite Bernard. One day Tom stole Bernard's bicycle and every day Bernard saw Tom cycling to school on it. After a year, Tom went up to Bernard, stretched out his hand and said, "Let us reconcile and put the past behind us."

Bernard looked at Tom's hand. "And what about the bicycle?"

"No," said Tom, "I'm not talking about the bicycle - I'm talking about reconciliation."

I have taken the liberty of devising an alternative ending to the above story which, I think, makes it more applicable to Canada today in the light of the Vatican's March 2023 repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery.

…

Bernard looked at Tom's hand. "And what about the bicycle?"

"No," said Tom, "I have already given it to Peter."

Bernard went to Peter and said, "I would like my bicycle back, please."

Peter replied, "It's not yours. It's mine. I bought it from Tom with my own money that took me three months to save up for. I can't just give it back to you."

We don't want to drive people with guilt. That is not effective, nor the way of Jesus. But the facts of history are that powerful, colonizing European nations used hegemony and the Doctrine of Discovery to claim sovereignty and impose their culture in the name of Christianity over lands and possessions stolen from weaker, non-Christian sovereign nations in the Americas and elsewhere across the world.

For all the above reasons, not least the message in the above meme, the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Canada needs to be among the ranks of all those Christians seeking truth, reconciliation and shalom-peace with Indigenous people on Turtle Island.

- Terry McCann

Homily for World Day of the Poor 2023

 

Do not turn your face away from one who is poor

- Sunday Homily by Deacon Marian, St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Newmarket

Today, the Church celebrates World Day of the Poor.  This year’s theme is: Do not turn away your face from anyone who is poor.

St. Vincent de Paul is one of the very well-known saints of the Church. His life, commitment and dedication to God are inspirational and exemplary. He was a truly great servant of God, who devoted himself to the poor and the needy. This young Frenchman, shortly after his ordination to the priesthood, was abducted on a ship, auctioned off as a slave and spent two years in bondage. Through many of his own hard experiences St. Vincent de Paul helped those who were marginalized and underprivileged. He founded a congregation of people who were concerned about the care of those who had been neglected by society, ignored and abandoned, with no one to help or assist them. 

His works and ministry inspired many others during his life and after his passing, and eventually led to the foundation of the modern day Society of St. Vincent de Paul that is renowned for its work among the poor throughout the world.

The parable of the talents, which Jesus uses in today’s gospel is very interesting and challenging, and so appropriate on this World Day of the Poor.

We cannot forget that nothing is really ours alone. Anything we own is God's gift. God's gift is not only our money or possessions or ownership, but also our friendships, relations, skills, talents, spiritual powers and various charisms.

We should be and live, with all we have, in the view of all; like nature around us, like a flower in the sun, like the sun itself. We obviously need to own things, of course the right to private property is valid. St. John Paul II said it very clearly in his encyclical "On Social Concern": The goods of the world are meant for all.

The conclusions from today’s gospel parable are hard, when we consider that in our 21st century many people are still poor, hungry and suffering because of the  inadequate distribution of resources and other injustices. 

Obviously we as individuals cannot do much, but if we think and reflect on the life and service of St. Vincent de Paul, we definitely can start to build a bridge between those in need and ourselves. 

Having heard today’s Gospel let us be filled with the conviction and the desire to use our gifts, talents and treasure. Let us all be exemplary, righteous and worthy in all of our actions, so that we may truly be good role models for one another in our daily lives. 

Let us be mindful of our baptismal promises, our obligations and calling to serve God with faith and commitment, and to proclaim the Good News always by being Christ's real presence to all people in our world. 

And in our own ways let us assist all people in need.  May this  special Day of the Poor become an opportunity for opening our hearts to share some of our talents, gifts, time and resources.

Deacon Marian is a member of SSVP in Newmarket.

The First Orange Shirt

 

#orangeshirtday, #everychildmatters

The story of the "first" orange shirt that gave rise to Orange Shirt Day, as told by Phyllis Webstad, can be found on the web page of the Orange Shirt society.

The beginning of Phyllis' story is reproduced here.

I went to the Mission for one school year in 1973/1974. I had just turned 6 years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exciting – just like I felt to be going to school!

When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared.

Click on the link to read the rest of Phyllis' story: https://orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story/

It is the feast day of St Vincent de Paul on September 27. It is Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. What do these two days have in common? The answer is, "Every child matters".

It is well known that St Vincent de Paul had a heart for the poor, but he had an especially big place in his heart for foundlings and orphans. Read about this aspect from the classic The Life of St. Vincent de Paul by F. A. Forbes.

Serving the poor is to be our first preference - St Vincent de Paul

Christ begging from Fr Vincent

From the writing of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest,
taken from the Office of Readings for September 27th.

Even though the poor are often rough and unrefined, we must not judge them from external appearances nor from the mental gifts they seem to have received. On the contrary, if you consider the poor in the light of faith, then you will observe that they are taking the place of the Son of God who chose to be poor. Although in his passion he almost lost the appearance of a man and was considered a fool... and a stumbling block..., he showed them that his mission was to preach to the poor: He sent me to preach the good news to the poor. We also ought to have this same spirit and imitate Christ’s actions, that is, we must take care of the poor, console them, help them, support their cause.

Since Christ willed to be born poor, he chose for himself disciples who were poor. He made himself the servant of the poor and shared their poverty. He went so far as to say that he would consider every deed which either helps or harms the poor as done for or against himself. Since God surely loves the poor, he also loves those who love the poor. For when one person holds another dear, he also includes in his affection anyone who loves or serves the one he loves. That is why we hope that God will love us for the sake of the poor. So when we visit the poor and needy, we try to understand the poor and weak. We sympathize with them so fully that we can echo Paul’s words: I have become all things to all men. Therefore, we must try to be stirred by our neighbors’ worries and distress. We must beg God to pour into our hearts sentiments of pity and compassion and to fill them again and again with these dispositions.

It is our duty to prefer the service of the poor to everything else and to offer such service as quickly as possible. If a needy person requires medicine or other help during prayer time, do whatever has to be done with peace of mind. Offer the deed to God as your prayer. Do not become upset or feel guilty because you interrupted your prayer to serve the poor. God is not neglected if you leave him for such service. One of God’s works is merely interrupted so that another can be carried out. So when you leave prayer to serve some poor person, remember that this very service is performed for God. Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity. Since she is a noble mistress, we must do whatever she commands. With renewed devotion, then, we must serve the poor, especially outcasts and beggars. They have been given to us as our masters and patrons.

Prayer

O God,
who for the relief of the poor
and the formation of the clergy
endowed the Priest 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.

September 27th – St. Vincent de Paul

- Reflection by Deacon Steve for the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, September 27th

Fr. Vincent serving the poor

In the “Life of St. Vincent de Paul” by Henry Bedford, there is a chapter called “The Sufferings of Lorraine” and refers to the year of 1639. While the thirty year war was still raging on Lorraine ended up being ravaged by French invaders amongst many. So bad was the devastation that one author wrote, “The country people, livid and gaunt through famine fought for the very grass, the roots of trees and acorns, and devoured ravenously the most putrid carrion. At last famine brought them to such a state that men killed one another for food.”

The author goes onto note that “Vincent heard that cry and at once responded to that appeal.” He gave all of the money they had in the house, and cut the meals in half and substituted some of the food with much poorer alternatives so as to try and offer more for the cause of the people of Lorraine.

Vincent wrote, “These are times of penance…for God is afflicting His people. To so much we are bound by obligation; but ought we not moreover to retrench something of our daily fare for the relief of others.”

After having exhausted his own resources he then looked to others, friends and contacts. Even these resources were soon used up and he had to turn to others. Soon those with more than ample resources were drawn in, such was the great saint’s appeal. Duchesses and other government officials drew on their wealth. Even Queen Anne of Austria would come forward and contribute greatly to the cause of Lorraine’s people.

Such was the influence of Vincent because of his deep prayer life and his amazing faith and trust in God’s providence. As the author says, “Men of less faith might have shrunk from so gigantic a labour; but it was a characteristic of our Saint to rise with the occasion, and to draw courage from what daunted others.”

Let us continue to pray for one another that our faith and trust in God may continue to deepen so that while the challenges that we face may seem overwhelming at times, we too may draw courage and rise to the occasion. Believe me when I say that I know you all have done it many times already.

God bless.

- Steve