Vincentian Spirituality and Scripture

Vincentian Spirituality and Sacred Scripture
A Series of Short Prayer Sessions

This set of eight prayers provides an opportunity to reflect more deeply on the Scripture passages that have
most shaped the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, as described in the Manual on pp. 59-66.

Each of these sessions takes a common format:
Moment of recollection and centering
Introduction of the theme
Quote about the theme
Introduction of the Scripture passage
Reflection questions
Period of silence
Opportunity for sharing
Closing prayer

The prayers are intended to help individuals focus on a very specific passage from the Gospels and to sit with
it in meditative silence. This period of silence is the central element of these prayers, as it allows participants
to listen intently and intimately to Gods voice in their hearts.
The sheets suggest two minutes of silence. Even that short amount can feel awkwardly long at first to those
not accustomed to it, but with practice it becomes more and more comfortable. As it can be difficult to judge
time in the quiet, you might have a clock or watch within eyesight to time the two minutes. You might
eventually lengthen that period of silence if the group finds it helpful, but it is suggested that it not be
shortened.
To help individuals focus on Christs words during the silence, each prayer session has a sheet of quotes that
can be cut up and handed out at the beginning of the prayer period. These can also serve as reminders of the
prayer over the next week.
As always, feel free to adapt these prayer sessions as the Holy Spirit moves you.


Preferential Option for the Poor
Leader: [Sign of the Cross] Lets begin by taking a moment to recall that we are in Gods presence. [Few
moments of silence.]
Leader: This morning we come before our God, asking to understand more deeply our Vincentian call to live
out the preferential option for the poor.
Long before theologians and Christian activists were using the phrase preferential option for the
poor, St. Vincent taught its essential truth. In serving the poor, he said, we serve Jesus Christ.
Reader: Pope John Paul II explains this calling:
Taking up the Lord's mission as her own, the Church proclaims the Gospel to every man and woman,
committing herself to their integral salvation. But with special attention, in a true preferential option,
she turns to those who are in situations of greater weakness, and therefore in greater need. The poor,
in varied states of affliction, are the oppressed, those on the margin of society, the elderly, the sick, the
young, any and all who are considered and treated as the least.

Leader: Let us take a few moments to reflect on Jesus own words. In Matthews gospel, He
tells us that the ultimate criteria for our lives will be how we responded to the hungry, the naked, the
stranger, the sick. Jesus says, Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers or
sisters of mine, you did for me.
As you reflect on these words, what images or faces come to mind? What memories? What desires
for the future? Pay attention to the emotions, the frustrations, the hopes. For the next two minutes,
simply listen quietly and trustingly to whatever new way Christ is inviting you to understand His words:
Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine, you did for
me.
[Two minutes of silence.]
Leader: If anyone would like to share with the group something you noticed about how Christ is speaking to
you in this Scripture, please feel free to do so.

[Leave time for sharing.]
Leader: Lord, thank you for this time together to begin hearing your voice. Keep speaking to us throughout
our week, and open our ears, that this prayer might continue amidst our work and our encounters. We
ask this in your name, Jesus, you who are ever present in the poor. Amen. [Sign of the Cross]


The Good Samaritan
Leader: This morning we come before our God, asking to understand more deeply our Vincentian call to be
good Samaritans.

Blessed Frederic Ozanam described the Societys members not as good Samaritans but as weak
Samaritans. We acknowledge that we cannot solve others problems as much as we would like, but
we can pause and take their needs seriously.

Reader: Pope John Paul II explains this calling:
Everyone who stops beside the suffering of another person, whatever form it may take, is a Good
Samaritan. This stopping does not mean curiosity but availability. It is like the opening of a certain
interior disposition of the heart.The name Good Samaritan fits every individual who is sensitive to
the sufferings of others, who is moved by the misfortune of another.

Leader: Let us take a few moments to reflect on Jesuss own words. We all know the story from Lukes gospel
of the man left beaten at the side of the road. Two religious leaders pass him by, but the stranger
stops to care for him. At the end of the story, Jesus asked a listener, Which of these three, in your
opinion, was neighbor to the robbers victim? He answered, The one who treated him with mercy.
Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise.
As you reflect on Christs question and command, what images or faces come to mind? What
memories? What desires for the future? Pay attention to the emotions, the frustrations, the hopes.
For the next two minutes, simply listen quietly and trustingly to whatever invitation Christ is giving you
through these words from Scripture: Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the
robbers victim? He answered, The one who treated him with mercy. Jesus said to him, Go and do
likewise.

ask this in your name, Jesus, you who are waiting patiently at the side of the road. Amen. [Sign of the
Cross]

Solidarity
Leader: This morning we come before our God, asking to understand more deeply our Vincentian call to
solidarity.
The Societys founders envisioned its members as working not simply for their neighbors in need, but
also with their neighbors in need. Blessed Rosalie Rendu exhorted the founders to welcome
everyone, speak to [those you serve] with both kindness and dignity, do not make them wait. Treat
them, she said, as you would treat your father, your brothers, your sisters. All of us have something
to offer; all of us have something to receive.
Reader: Pope John Paul II explains this calling to solidarity:
Now is the time for a new creativity in charity, not only by ensuring that help is effective but also by
getting close to those who suffer, so that the hand that helps is seenas a sharing between brothers
and sisters.
Leader: Let us take a few moments to reflect on some words from Scripture. Jesus teaches that the love of
God and the love of neighbor are one and the same, and that our love for others must not be
condescending but rather the same love we have for ourselves. He confirms this greatest
commandment: You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all
your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.
As you reflect on Gods commandment, what images or faces come to mind? What memories? What
desires for the future? Pay attention to the emotions, the frustrations, the hopes. For the next two
minutes, simply listen quietly and trustingly to whatever invitation Christ is giving you through these
words from Scripture: You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with
all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

ask this in your name, Jesus, you who reveal all people to be our brothers and sisters. Amen. [Sign of
the Cross]


Charity and Justice
charity and justice.
Blessed Frederic Ozanam said, The order of society is based on two virtues: justice and charity.
Charity is the Samaritan who pours oil on the wounds of the traveler who has been attacked. It is
justice's role to prevent the attack.
Reader: Pope John Paul II further explains this vision:
Blessed Frederic observed the real situation of [those in need] and sought to be more and more
effective in helping them in their human development. He understood that charity must lead to efforts
to remedy injusticeHe had a clear-sighted courage to seek a front-line social and political
commitment in a troubled time in the life of his country, for no society can accept indigence as if it
were simply a fatality without damaging its honor.
Leader: Let us take a few moments to reflect on Jesus own words. Before He left His disciples, Jesus
missioned them to be His hands on earth, fashioning a world that is closer and closer to the fulfilled
kingdom of God. Christ says, I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you,
so you also should love one another.
As you sit with this directive from Jesus, what images or faces come to mind? What memories? What
desires for the future? Pay attention to the emotions, the frustrations, the hopes. For the next two
minutes, simply listen quietly and trustingly to whatever invitation Christ is giving you through his
words: I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should
love one another.

ask this in your name, Jesus, you whose kingdom is perfect mercy and perfect justice. Amen. [Sign of
the Cross]


Non-judgmental Attitude
be non-judgmental.
St. Vincent said, Deal with neighbors in a gentle, humble, and loving manner, even with the most
hardened of sinners, and never employ a vehement accusation or reproaches or harsh language
toward anyone whomsoever.
Reader: The Manual of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul explains this approach:
Vincentians are non-judgmental. A non-judgmental attitude excludes assigning guilt or responsibility
for a persons needs or problems. We judge women and men strictly on their need, not on their color,
nationality, education, or morality. We treat each person with the dignity that belongs to a human
being. That dignity demands, at the very least, that we never judge another person to be useless,
unnecessary, or totally bad. To judge and act that way is unjust.

Leader: Let us take a few moments to reflect on Jesus own words. In the Sermon on the Plain in Lukes
Gospel, Christ tells us, Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not
be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
As you sit with these words, these instructions on how to be Christian, what images or faces come to
mind? What memories? What desires for the future? Pay attention to the emotions, the frustrations,
the hopes. For the next two minutes, simply listen quietly and trustingly to whatever invitation Christ
is giving you through his words: Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you
will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be
forgiven.

ask this in your name, Jesus, you who love us even knowing our worst mistakes and deepest flaws.
Amen. [Sign of the Cross]


Rooted in Prayer
be rooted in prayer.
St. Vincent said, Give me a person of prayer, and such a one will be capable of accomplishing
anything.
Reader: After the death of Frederic Ozanam, his wife, Amelie, said of him:

I never saw him wake up or fall asleep without making the sign of the cross and praying. In the
morning he read the Bible, in Greek, on which he meditated about half an hour. In the last years of his
life, he went to Mass every day... He never did anything serious without praying. Before leaving for his
classes, he always got on his knees to ask God for the grace of saying nothing which would attract
public praise to himself, but of only speaking for the glory of God and the service of the truth.

Leader: Let us take a few moments to reflect on Jesus own example. When he teaches his disciples about
prayer, he begins by saying, This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your
name, your kingdom come, your will be done (Mt 6:9-10)
As you sit with the initial words of this familiar prayer, what images or faces come to mind? What
memories? What desires for the future? Pay attention to the emotions, the frustrations, the hopes.
For the next two minutes, simply listen quietly and trustingly to whatever invitation Christ is giving you
through his words: This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your
kingdom come, your will be done

ask this in your name, Jesus, you whose work was inseparable from prayer. Amen. [Sign of the Cross]


Trust in Providence
Leader: This morning we come before our God, asking to understand more deeply our Vincentian call to trust
in Gods Providence.
Blessed Frederic once said to a friend, Let us walk simply in the path where a merciful Providence
leads us, content to see the stone wherever we are to place our foot, without desiring to see the
length or the windings of the way.

Reader: In a talk given to the Daughters of Charity, St. Vincent emphasized the importance of trusting God. He
said, "You must strip yourselves of all things and possess nothing of your own ... Providence will never
fail you. Will you not have sufficient courage to give yourselves to God who thinks so much of you? ...
Rich people may become poor, owing to accidents which frequently occur, but those who are resolved
to depend utterly on Providence shall never be poor."

Leader: Let us take a few moments to reflect on Jesus own words. In beautiful imagery, he points out Gods
care for the flowers in the field and birds in the sky. How much more does God care for you, Christ
tells us. He invites us to let go of our fears. He invites us to face uncertainty with trust. He says, So
do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
As you sit with these words, what images or faces come to mind? What memories? What desires for
the future? Pay attention to the emotions, the frustrations, the hopes. For the next two minutes,
simply listen quietly and trustingly to whatever invitation Christ is giving you through his words: So do
not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

ask this in your name, Jesus, you who trusted your Fathers guiding hand through the Cross and to the
Resurrection. Amen. [Sign of the Cross]


The Sacredness of Friendship and Marriage
meaningful human relationship.
One of the three essential elements of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is friendship, which draws us
closer to our divine model, Jesus Christ, by experiencing the love of God in the person of others.

Reader: Blessed Frederic Ozanam, the founder of the Society, found great holiness in human relationships,
and particularly in his marriage. In a letter to an acquaintance, he described the sacredness of
marriage in words that could apply to any close friendship:
In your wife you will first love God, whose admirable and precious work she is, and then humanity.
You will draw comfort from her tenderness on bad days, you will find courage in her example in
perilous times, you will be her guardian angel, she will be yours.

Leader: Let us take a few moments to reflect on Jesus own words. He tells us, For where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
As you sit with these words, what images or faces come to mind? What memories? What desires for
the future? Pay attention to the emotions, the frustrations, the hopes. For the next two minutes,
simply listen quietly and trustingly to whatever invitation Christ is giving you through his words: For
where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

ask this in your name, Jesus, you who continue to be present to us in those we love. Amen. [Sign of the
Cross]

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A Series of Short Prayer Sessions

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