The fifth Joyful Mystery – the loss and finding of Jesus at the temple – presents to us the

concrete evidence of Jesus’ divinity.  He stayed in His Father’s house (temple) and was very
much adept with the Laws of Moses which he was discussing with the teachers of the temple. 
He was twelve years old then.  St. Vincent also knew in his heart the dream of his father for
him and his family – a comfortable life.  He then worked hard in pursuing priesthood and
became a priest at the age of 19 or 20 to realize his father’s dream.   This tells us that age
doesn’t matter when one decides to be God’s prophet and missionary

At a young age, Jesus’ knowledge of the Scriptures and of God is so intense that even the
teachers of the temple listened to him.  His own mother and father were also taken aback when
they found Jesus speaking with the elders. He was also very obedient to His Father and earthly
father and mother. Like Jesus, Vincent also became a priest at a younger age, he was
motivated by his desire to fulfill his father’s dream

Jesus was very proficient with the Laws of God.  He knew by heart each law, thereby, He knew
His Father’s heart.  God gave us the Commandments in order to us guide on how to be faithful
to Him.  St. 
Vincent lived out God’s commandments and fulfilled it even to his last breath

As disciples of Jesus and followers of St. Vincent, we too must put God at the center of our life
and obediently follow God’s Commandments --- Loving God with one’s whole self and Loving
our neighbors as we love our God

In preparation fo his ministry, Jesus went to the desert to pray. There he was tempted by Satan
after 40 days and nights of fasting – the time when he was at his weakest. However, he was
able to overcome it. this clearly tells us that n one is deprived from being tempted but each one
has the capacity to hurdle it just like St. Louise de Marillac

St. Louise de Marillac came to a certain point in her life when she was struggling with doubts
yet, she persevered by giving more time for prayer.  She received God’s enlightenment which
she called as her “Lumiere” or “Light” experience.

Jesus exemplified to us that every person has the capacity to resist temptation – physical,
emotional and spiritual.  It is only when one goes through a spiritual trial or “dark night of the
soul” like St. Louise had experienced will one grow in spiritual intimacy with God.  Spiritual crisis
is inevitable when one moves towards a deeper and intimate relationship with God.  It is when
one longs more for God that temptation becomes stronger

As a Christian and Vincentian, we are always confronted with trials that either weaken or
strengthen us.  Thus, St. Vincent and St. Louise emphasized the importance of prayer in our
daily life.  It is only through prayer that we can confront temptations head on
 On the feast of the Ascension, May 25, 1623, Louise de Marillac entered into a dark
night which lasted until Pentecost, June 4, 1623.   The spiritual trial was consisted of three
doubts: 
1 – whether or not she should leave her husband to make good her first vow and to
st

have greater liberty to serve God and her neighbor

2 – whether or not she had the capacity to break the attachment she had for her
nd

director which might prevent her from accepting another 

3 – her doubt concerning the immortality of the soul
rd

On the feast of the Pentecost June 4, during Mass or while praying in the Church, Louise’s mind
was instantly freed of all doubt and she received what she termed her “Lumiere” of LIGHT.  In
this enlightenment:

1 – she was advised to remain with her husband

st

2 – she was given the insight that the time would come when she would make vows of
nd

poverty, chastity and obedience; she would be in a small community where others would do the
same, where she could help her neighbor and where there was to be much coming and going. 
This she could not understand.  She was assured about her spiritual director and that God
would give her one whom he seemed to show her.  Although it was repugnant to her to accept
him, nevertheless, she acquiesced. 
3 -Her third doubt was removed by the inner assurance she felt that it was God who
rd

was teaching her these things and that believing there is a God she should not doubt the rest.

Reassured and strengthened by this gift of “light”, Louise continued to nurse her
husband, care for her son, attend to family responsibilities and to reach out to the poor.  
Gradually the illuminations of the Holy Spirit began to unfold.

The baptism of Jesus marked the beginning of his ministry. Ut was his cousin John who
administered it. john has been blessed by God and has prepared him for his mission –
reminding the people to return to God and change their ways for the Messiah is coming. God
willed St. Vincent de Paul to be his priest and prepared him to become a servant of the poor
though his experience of slavery and faith crisis.

The baptism of Jesus revealed the greatness of God. John the Baptist John was proclaimed by
Jesus as one of the greatest prophets for he spoke of repentance and acceptance of the
messiah. Vincent was also a prophet whose heart has been purified by God through his
experience of enslavement and “dark night of the soul”. It was these experiences that made
him aware of his true mission – love and service of God in the person of the poor.

Baptist is the basic sacrament of “birth: that makes one a member of the church and thus
capable of receiving the other sacraments. Washed with water and consecrated by the Holy
Spirit, with faith and repentance the baptized are cleansed from sin, share in the dying and
rising of Christ, and begin a new life in Him.

Jesus and his first miracle at Cana, Galilee was an unplanned event. Jesus di not expect that his
mother would urge him to help the newly married couple. As an obedient and filial son, he gave
in to the request. Louise de Marillac dreamt of becoming a nun but was rejected. Because of
this her family arranged a marriage for her.
Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God by His words, deeds and through miracles that he
performed. The Confraternities of Charity, Congregation of the mission and daughters of charity
are congregations where the poor can feel and experience God’s.