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 The Vision of Vincent de Paul
While working as a parish priest in Clichy, France (1612), Vincent found that a large number of the parishioners lacked access to the basic necessities of life. In response, he organized a “confraternity.” Vincent soon realized that the needs were not only for soup, bread or shoes; people also possessed a deep need to have the assurance of God’s love and mercy in a seemingly uncaring world. Vincent came to know the people of Clichy very well. In all of his work there, he enjoyed enormous success. He became the peoples' advocate, their champion, and he drew others to join him in serving them. The sixteen months Vincent stayed there was a formative period for him. At one stage he told the Bishop of Paris that he had such good parish that doubted that anyone could be happier than he, not the bishop himself or even his holiness the pope. (IX, 646) This experience of service, and several similar experiences, led Vincent to the conviction that who we listen to, who we love and what we do, in the end, determine who we are. He came to believe more deeply that the God who identifies with the most vulnerable members of society is the God of mercy and compassion (Mt.25). This was that vision that energized him. The transformation that occurred in Vincent de Paul was such that it led him to view society from the perspective of its impact on those who were excluded for any reason. This, in turn, led to the commitment to be more caring and compassionate and to work wholeheartedly for the elimination of poverty and violence. Vincent de Paul | Vincent de Paul | | Return Home | About Us | What's New | Current Focus | Articles | Great Links | Email Form | |
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