Vincentians

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SVdP National President Featured in National Catholic Register
SVdP National President Featured in National Catholic Register 398 398 SVDP USA

“To address the homelessness crisis, we must encounter those on the brink.” So writes SVdP National President John Berry, in his latest op-ed for the National Catholic Register.

Here’s an excerpt:

“To understand why prevention programs are so critically needed, we must first understand why so many people are becoming homeless. According to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, the number of Americans experiencing homelessness has risen almost 50% over the past eight years. 12 million people are “severely cost-burdened,” and thus at risk of becoming homeless themselves. That massive increase can’t be attributed to drugs or mental illness (even if those ills affect the most visibly homeless). Instead, its main drivers are brute economic factors like skyrocketing housing costs and inflation. “A great river of poverty is traversing our cities and swelling to the point of overflowing,” Pope Francis said in his 2023 message for the World Day of the Poor. “It seems to overwhelm us, so great are the needs of our brothers and sisters who plead for our help, support and solidarity.””

Click here to read John’s full article.

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08-22-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
08-22-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

“As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:20

As Vincentians, we are still facing the challenges and issues of diversity along with all our personal challenges. And of course, this makes it difficult to increase membership, but in no way does it stop us from doing what we are called to do and to be — ONE SOCIETY.

Yes, when we speak of diversity, we mean more Hispanics and more African Americans but, we also mean more Asians, more youth, more women, more disabled people, and greater regional diversity. A natural phenomenon is that people attract others who look like them. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each Vincentian to seek out people who are different from themselves. Yes, this can be uncomfortable, but it can be done and is likely to be a good learning experience for everyone involved. It sets an example that is self-replicating.

Diversity in membership creates a more innovative and successful organization. Bringing together different perspectives, experiences, and talents, creates a dynamic environment that fosters growth and success for both individuals and the organization. Since the Society wishes to grow its membership, diversity is one way to make that happen. In a recent commentary on VisionSVdP, the question was asked, “why can’t we move the needle on increasing diversity in our membership despite years of trying?” I challenge us to say and believe “Yes We Can.”

As Vice President of Friendship and Community, our committee has the charge to continue the dedicated efforts of building awareness, bridging abilities, embracing diversity, and broadening friendships and community. We are to take bold and courageous steps toward weaving the threads and strengthening the bonds between different groups in a fragmented and divisive culture. As we focus on these goals and take the necessary action, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will reflect more beautifully the Multicultural Diversity Committee’s guiding principle, known as EMBRACE: Every Member Belongs, Respects, Accepts, Cares, and Empathizes with each other and with those we serve. This will allow us to strengthen ourselves within and go forth to build a dynamic, diverse, and dedicated Society.

We invite you to open again your heart to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and be inspired to join hands and make a personal commitment to move the “diversity needle.” Again, this is one way we can grow our Society. Here are a few tips on how you can help us meet these lofty goals:

  1. Get to know individuals who are different.
  2. Show and promote the works of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
  3. Discern their interest and invite them to join the Society
  4. Mentor and demonstrate the MCDC guiding principle – EMBRACE
  5. Assess your Conference as to its “welcoming culture”
  6. Accompany new members as you teach and live the essential elements of the Society: – Spirituality, Friendship and Service.

All these things are important as the Society moves the “diversity needle” and becomes a place where individuals from all backgrounds are welcomed, and a place where good continues to flow outward with ever-increasing effectiveness. Can we move the ‘diversity needle”? Yes We Can!!!

Yours in Christ,
Connie Steward
National Vice President of Vincentian Friendship and Community

 

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Contemplation: A Cycle of Love
Contemplation: A Cycle of Love 800 800 SVDP USA

By Timothy Williams, Senior Director of Formation and Leadership Development 

We serve, our Rule reminds us, for love alone. [Rule, Part I, 2.2] This does not mean we do it in exchange for love, but rather that our works are motivated by love, and freely given as acts of love. Our own hearts, aflame with the love of God, cannot help but share this gift, to put the needs of another before our own. And although we do not seek it, it is the nature of the Divine love to always remain a gift, and one that will return to us only when we freely give it away.

This is why Bl. Rosalie Rendu taught her Daughters always to receive love with gratitude, even as we continue to give. “Love the fact that the poor love you,” she said. “If you have nothing to give, give yourself.” [Sullivan, 322] After all, if we seek God and serve God in the poor, then the love we receive from them is the love of God. As Bl. Frédéric Ozanam explained “in exchange for our love they will give us their prayers, and the blessing of the poor is a blessing from God.” [1457, Annual Report, 1834]

God’s love is given to us gratuitously; it is a gift, a grace which we can nether earn nor repay. Indeed, the words gratitude, gratuitous, and grace all stem from the Latin grātia, which refers to a favor or kindness – a gift. Like all things we receive from God – our talents, our comforts, our food and drink, our successes, our health, our very lives – God’s love is always offered back to Him, because it always remains of Him and in Him. He calls upon us to share His love with each other and with the neighbor, in whom we will find Him. He is not hidden from us. Rather, St. Vincent de Paul taught, “Wherever we go, we always find God. If He’s the one you seek, you’ll find Him everywhere.” [CCD X:416]

In so many areas of society, economics, and life, we observe cycles. Cycles of poverty, cycles of despair, cycles of violence – many of them vicious cycles, which end as they begin, ever renewing the despair or poverty with which they began. Like the ouroboros devouring its own tail, each is seemingly contained entirely within itself, perpetuating itself in its hopelessness.

Yet each of these is only one small part of a much greater and more powerful cycle of God’s creation, of life itself. Christ taught us not to despair over the troubles of the day, over the food we eat, or the clothes we wear. He taught us the power of God’s love through His own supreme sacrifice of love on the Cross, given with no thought towards repayment – as if there were any way for us to repay Him. He asks us, instead of repaying Him, to partake of Him, to receive His love and to share it with each other.

In the Eucharist, He remains truly present, continuing to give Himself, just as Bl. Rosalie calls on us to do. With each work of charity, of love, we both begin and perpetuate a great cycle of love, one that replaces poverty with gladness, and despair with hope. We do not give in order to receive, yet when we love, we are loved in return by God, through each other and the poor, and we are renewed.

Contemplate

While gratuitously sharing God’s love, do I remain always open to receiving it again?

Recommended Reading

Turn Everything to Love

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Contemplation: Joy In Gratitude
Contemplation: Joy In Gratitude 800 800 SVDP USA

By Timothy Williams, Senior Director of Formation and Leadership Development 

In the times that our work seems difficult, and the problems of the neighbor or our Conference seems overwhelming, there is one thing that should fill our hearts and minds, bringing us to a state of peace and good cheer in serving: gratitude.

It is easy to be grateful for good fortune, however fleeting: the raise at work, the second helping of pie, the cure for an illness, or a narrowly avoided accident while driving. “God was with me!” we think. We say a prayer of thanks and, smiling, go on with our lives.

But God is also with the ones who were not healed, the ones who remained hungry, the ones who crashed their cars. Not only is He with them, both the Father and the Son have told us that they will always be with us, and further remind us that in serving them, we truly serve Him. How can we not be grateful for this opportunity to serve, however difficult it may seem at times? This is our vocation, after all, our calling – it was not we who chose Him, but He who chose us, who called us, who sends us to offer His comfort to the afflicted.

“Humble yourselves for this grace,” St. Vincent teaches, “and be grateful for it. Humble yourselves at the sight of this astonishing action of God for what would you be…had He not chosen to call you from your poor and lowly state to serve Him?” [SWLM, 792]

It is part of our trust in Divine Providence that should lead us to gratitude. If God has called us, we trust, even in difficult times, that this is for the best, in accordance with His will. In turn, St. Louise taught, it is our gratitude that will give us “the disposition necessary to receive the graces you need to serve your sick poor in a spirit of gentleness and great compassion, in imitation of Our Lord who acted this way with the most unfortunate.” [SWLM, 434]

It is in our virtue of gentleness, born of gratitude, that we express “kindness, sweetness and patience in our relationship with others.” [Rule, Part I, 2.5.1] This is true not only when things go well, or when we think we have a solution to the neighbor’s material needs, but also – and especially – when things seem most bleak. In our gratitude for being called into His presence in our vocation, as St. Louise asks, “Why are our souls not in a continuous state of joy and happiness?” [SWLM, 774]

The smiles we offer are not ours alone to give but are a great gift of joy from God, a sign of His eternal love. When we remain grateful, we cannot help but share this joy with the neighbor, and “reflect on the eternal joy that you will have in heaven if, on earth, you love God and your neighbor as He has commanded you.” [SWLM, 804]

Contemplate

How many times have I thanked God for my difficulties, along with my joys?

Recommended Reading

Mystic of Charity

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Encountering Our Neighbor -Video-
Encountering Our Neighbor -Video- 1080 1080 SVDP USA

Encountering Our Neighbor

Hear what three Vincentians – John, Dr. Ken, and Marge – have to say about their heartfelt experience serving a neighbor, and how that has shaped their time with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

John Berry, National President:  

We had opened up a brand new food pantry in Atlanta where I’m from and we had a woman that was coming through and it was a client choice food pantry, so we were walking with her and helping her choose. And we had a refrigerator cabinet that we had cakes and those kind of things in because the local supermarket had donated them to us and we always made those available to people. And this woman came up to the refrigerator cabinet and she started crying. And we were like “Oh You know what happened. What did we do?” And she started sobbing and she said “Tomorrow is my daughter’s birthday and I never thought I would be able to afford to have a cake for her birthday.” So we got her the cake and then we went to the warehouse and we got a bicycle for her to give her daughter for her birthday and it was just something that, you know, when she left, we all looked at each other and said this is what it’s all about. This is what it’s all about.

Dr. Ken Snider:

Well, one little girl, she came up when she was 10 years old and she had a cleft lip and a cleft palate. And I wish I could say if I have the before and after pictures. So when I examined her, I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by bringing notice to the cleft. So when I I finished examining her, I said “Honey, have you ever heard of braces?” You know, she shook her head. And I said “Well, we can do that. I said we can’t, you know, take everyone. But if you’re interested, I might be able to get you in.” Well I’m the dental director I can get them in, but if the kids aren’t interested, even if the parents want it, they’re not going to maintain it and everything. You know, there’s limited resources. And so she started to cry. And I thought I hurt her feelings. And the staff person said no, she said those are tears of joy. She thought this would never be possible for her. Then her mother came in, and her mother started to cry. We were all crying.

Marge McGinley:

So I met this beautiful person who was in need and when we got to her home we could tell she was conserving every penny, because each room had a curtain to conserve the air conditioning in that room. And we visited with her and she said “You know everybody that I’ve dealt with from Saint Vincent de Paul has been so kind. Like the people that answer your phones, everybody is so kind.” And I said, “Well, of course we are. Because for us, you are the face of Christ. We’re meeting Jesus when we meet you.”  And she started to cry. And she said “No one has ever talked to me so kindly.” As we were leaving, she said “I just have one more question.” And I said OK, and she said, “Can I join you? Can I can I help other people? I know I need help but can I help somebody else because I want to be able to see Jesus.”

Dr. Ken Snider:

Yeah, I mean it’s priceless. When you put your head on the pillow at night and you think, wow, you know. How did I? How did God grant me the blessing to be part of this, you know. And it truly is a blessing.

John Berry, National President:  

I mean the encounters run the gauntlet from the Home Visits that we do, the thrift stores that we operate, the food pantries that we operate. Each one of those is an opportunity for us to touch humanity and for humanity to touch us, because our growth through that service is really the ultimate most important thing that we do is grow spiritually.

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08-08-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
08-08-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

The human head has between 80 – 90,000 hairs. That’s roughly the number of Society of St Vincent de Paul members in the United States. In 11 years as your national CEO, my hair has become increasingly greyer. Coincidence?

Many people share with me that I always appear calm, especially when events crash around us. That’s because I am a constructive worrier, although some might call it simply anticipative. Chances are that the outcome I imagined, and planned for, was worse than what actually happened. Hope for the best, expect the worst, and you are rarely surprised.

What do I worry about in this role? There are big things, but mostly small things. I worry that the right person is at the right time and place, saying the right things. I worry about national event attendance. My largest worries are that whatever we are doing is not enough to help every family out there who needs us. I worry that there is some solution to poverty that we haven’t found yet, despite our best efforts. I worry about a shrinking Church in some parts of our country, limiting the recruiting pool for new Society members. Finally, I worry that our members need something from “National” that we can’t provide.

You might find this strange, but I don’t worry about money too much. We are blessed with generous donors, and many more people we haven’t yet reached with our story, because when they know our story and impact, they respond with financial resources. No, we usually suffer more from a lack of people and organization than a lack of funds.

It would be wonderful if I could worry about not meeting our mission because we have served everyone in need we can find. Unfortunately, this may never happen. The Poor, as we know, will always be with us. And so, too, will there be people who need to grow in their own holiness. We will have important Society work for a lifetime!

As I depart next month through my retirement from this CEO position, I also don’t worry too much about the Society’s future. We are blessed with many great leaders, who have learned from those who served previously and who continue to elevate our work. We also have a new generation or two behind them, learning as they serve as good followers. My successor, Michael Acaldo, is a proven servant leader. He will build upon whatever good, bad, or just plain nutty practices I have put in place to lead our wonderful National Council staff and serve our ambitious, dedicated Board of Directors. We have money in the bank to fuel dreams of growth and innovation, a solid Vincentian formation platform, and plenty of heart, brains, and desire to do good. There are genuinely exciting times ahead of us!

My wife Mary Ellen and I are moving to suburban Phoenix next month. The plan is to write some books, including perhaps a collection of these Servant Leader columns, join some neighborhood hobby clubs, serve in my parish and Conference, support the National and local SVdP Councils as they see fit, and finally to learn some new skills. These are the new interests I’d like to turn my worries to soon. I can’t see myself doing little or nothing. I certainly have so many Vincentian friends in their 60s and above who serve as role models for fruitful, active retirements!

Maybe I’ll become a keyboard warrior, go to some ballgames, take more naps, and squirt a water hose in fun at passing children from my front yard. After 40 years of professional nonprofit service, a little more personal, even wasted, time might be fun!

Before I leave, I want to thank you for reading these columns over the years. This is my last Servant Leader column, at least as your national CEO. It’s gratifying when someone says they read my work. It’s even more fulfilling when a member says that they brought my column to a Conference meeting to initiate a conversation of substance. Maybe I couldn’t provide an answer, but framing the right question is also important.

Thank you as well for your patience, friendship and lessons learned through our worshiping and serving together. I have grown as a person, a servant leader, and as a faithful Catholic through our relationships over a decade. I can leave my Society job and my career with gratitude, confidence in our efforts together, adequate retirement savings, and an abundance of friendships. And even most of my hair.

Yours in Christ,
Dave Barringer
National CEO

 

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Contemplation: One Who Lives Differently
Contemplation: One Who Lives Differently 800 800 SVDP USA

By Timothy Williams, Senior Director of Formation and Leadership Development 

Serviens in spe, reads the Society’s motto, Serving in Hope. Hope can be a powerful feeling, a state of mind that keeps us going through great difficulties. It is a light at the end of the tunnel, the silver lining behind the cloud, and the gain we seek to receive from the pain of our efforts. But the hope in which Vincentians serve is much more than a feeling or a motivation – it is a virtue and a grace to be shared.

There is no doubt that the material support we offer to the neighbor is important. Sitting in darkness and heat with the electricity cut off in the middle of summer can lead to hopelessness, and hunger and thirst can lead to despair. As Bl. Frédéric cautioned, we must “beware of despair most of all, for this is the death of the soul.” [42, to Falconnet, 1831] The money, the food, the furniture and the clothing – all the things we can provide to offer some small relief for the neighbor’s suffering is vital. As St. James reminds us, if all we do is wish the poor well, but “do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Yet, as important as these works are, they are not enough by themselves; works without faith are no less empty than faith without works, and “Vincentians visit not merely to drop off groceries or pay a bill, but to form relationships based on trust and friendship.” [Manual, 20] Our visiting, our encouragement, and our prayers serve most importantly to bring true hope.

We work tirelessly not only to help the poor, but to help them move out of poverty. At the same time, we recognize that the hope in which we serve must not be so limited that it is restricted to a hope that the lights will be turned back on, or the rent will be paid, but is instead “the great hope that cannot be destroyed.” [Spe Salvi, 35] It is the hope that is the light of the world, the hope that fills our hearts, the hope that transcends all worldly cares; it is a hope that grows from the love of a God who holds each of us precious in His sight, and does not abandon us in our despair.

It is important to eat, but it leaves you hungry again later. It is important to pay the rent, but the bill comes due again next month. God’s love is eternal, and our first responsibility in serving the poor is to do so for love alone, in the hope that through our caring “the poor may catch a glimpse of God’s great love for them.” [Rule, Part I, 2.1]

Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Those things are consumed in an instant and then we need them again, which sometimes leads us to worry too much, or to store up more than we need, but “the one who has hope lives differently.” [Spe Salvi, 2]

Contemplate

In relieving the neighbor’s suffering, do I also offer hope?

Recommended Reading

Spe Salvi

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Michael Acaldo to Helm the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA as Next Chief Executive Officer
Michael Acaldo to Helm the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA as Next Chief Executive Officer 1080 1080 SVDP USA

After an extensive nationwide search led by executive search firm BoardWalk Consulting, we are proud to announce that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) has chosen its next National CEO from our own SVdP USA family.

Michael Acaldo, the CEO of the SVdP Diocesan Council of Baton Rouge, will become our new CEO of the National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, effective October 1.

A native of Baton Rouge, Michael has been a member of the Vincentian Family since 1990. He received both his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and his Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University.

In his tenure in Baton Rouge, Michael has led that St. Vincent de Paul Council to incredible growth. In 1991, he oversaw the founding of the Bishop Ott Shelter Program, which has since grown to five emergency shelters serving men, women, children, and families, and which provided more than 31,000 guest nights of shelter in 2023. In 1995, he helped establish the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy, the first SVdP Charitable Pharmacy in the nation. The Baton Rouge St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room served over 300,000 meals to neighbors in need in 2023. And if that weren’t enough, he’s also the creator, host, and executive producer of the SVdP Beacons of Light television show, which has been on the air since 2006.

Michael is well respected within the Society, and within the larger Catholic community. He has received various honors for his work with the Society in Baton Rouge, including receiving the Benemerenti Medal from Pope John Paul II in 2002 for service to the Catholic Church; serving as a John W. Barton, Sr. Fellow for excellence in community nonprofit leadership, also in 2002; being inducted into the Catholic High School Hall of Fame in 2009; and receiving the inaugural St. Joseph’s Cathedral Community Award in 2013.

Of his new role, Michael had this to say: “I feel so blessed and honored to be chosen for this leadership position during such an exciting time in our Society’s history. Our National Board’s launching of VisionSVdP focuses on listening to every voice in our Vincentian Family, which is so powerful! I believe that the Holy Spirit will speak through Vincentians around the country, and provide a roadmap for our bright future. Plus, I cannot wait to join our talented and dedicated National Staff in St. Louis.”

National President John Berry notes, “This is a great day for the Society. Michael has been a friend and a colleague for almost 20 years and I can say without hesitation that he is an amazing leader, a consummate professional, and the kind of visionary that the Society needs to help take us into the future. Michael has a deep commitment to the essential elements of spirituality, service, and friendship. The Board of Directors and I look forward to working with Michael.”

Michael and Paula, his wife of 32 years, are the proud parents of adult twin daughters. They are thrilled and looking forward to the arrival of their first grandchild this November.

SVdP’s National CEO search was overseen by a committee of eight current and former Board members from across the country, and the search encompassed sources and prospects from at least 28 states and the District of Columbia. The committee was advised throughout by BoardWalk Consulting, an executive search firm specializing in the recruitment of CEOs for nonprofits and foundations.

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08-01-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
08-01-24 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

The miracle of the loaves and the fishes and the parable of the Judgment of the Nations offer profound insights into faith, generosity, resourcefulness, and service. These lessons are particularly relevant for us, especially in the context of fundraising and adapting to a changing world. By examining these stories, we can draw valuable lessons that guide us in our mission to serve others and sustain our organization.

In the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, Jesus is confronted with a large crowd of hungry people. Despite having only five loaves of bread and two fish, He performs a miracle, multiplying the food to feed thousands. This story teaches us several key lessons that are highly relevant to our efforts in fundraising.

First, the miracle underscores the importance of faith and trust in Divine Providence. Just as Jesus trusted that God would provide for the needs of the crowd, we too must have faith that our efforts in fundraising will be blessed. But this faith is not passive; it requires us to take action, just as the disciples did when they distributed the loaves and fishes. In a changing world, where economic uncertainties and shifting donor priorities can make fundraising challenging, maintaining faith in our mission and in God’s providence is crucial. We must believe that our efforts, no matter how small, can be multiplied by divine intervention. But we must also adapt our actions to the changing world we face.

Second, the miracle highlights the power of generosity and the impact of small contributions.

The boy who offered his loaves and fishes did not have much, but his willingness to give what he had made a significant difference. In fundraising, we often focus on large donations, but this story reminds us that every contribution, no matter how small, is valuable. Encouraging a culture of generosity within our communities can lead to collective impact, where many small gifts combine to create substantial support for our mission and the combined efforts of many can achieve great things.

Third, the miracle teaches us about the importance of adaptability and resourcefulness. Jesus and His disciples did not have a detailed plan for feeding the crowd, but they adapted to the situation and used the resources available to them. In today’s rapidly changing world, we must be flexible and innovative in our fundraising strategies. This might involve embracing new technologies, exploring diverse funding sources, or finding creative ways to engage with donors. By being adaptable, we can respond to new challenges and opportunities as they arise. And we must be open and willing to invest in fundraising, spending appropriately on ways that will allow us to grow our fundraising income.

The parable of the Judgment of the Nations, found in Matthew 25:31-46, complements these lessons by emphasizing the importance of serving others. In this passage, Jesus speaks about the separation of the sheep and the goats, highlighting that those who serve the least of these — feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned — are serving Him. This story teaches us that our work in fundraising is not just about raising money; it is about fulfilling our mission to serve others and make a positive impact in their lives. Our fundraising efforts should always be aligned with our core mission of service and compassion.

In the context of fundraising, these lessons are particularly relevant. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, we can multiply our efforts by leveraging the power of community, collaboration, and wise fundraising investment. By building strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and community members, we can amplify our impact and achieve our goals more effectively. This might involve creating partnerships with other organizations, engaging with professional fundraising experts, and mobilizing others to support our mission. Collaboration and partnership can lead to a multiplication of resources and efforts, enabling us to reach more people and make a greater difference.

Furthermore, the parable of the Judgment of the Nations reminds us of the ultimate purpose of our work. Our fundraising efforts are not just about sustaining our organizations; they are about serving others and fulfilling our mission. This perspective can inspire and motivate us, even in the face of challenges. When we remember that our work is ultimately about serving Christ through serving others, we can find the strength and determination to persevere.

In conclusion, the miracle of the loaves and the fishes and the parable of the Judgment of the Nations offer timeless lessons. By maintaining faith, fostering generosity, being adaptable, and focusing on serving others, we can navigate the challenges of a changing world and continue to fulfill our mission. Let us take these lessons to heart as we work together to make a positive impact in the lives of those we serve. Through faith, generosity, adaptability, and service, we can multiply our efforts and achieve great things!

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

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Contemplation: Providing What is Needed
Contemplation: Providing What is Needed 800 800 SVDP USA

By Timothy Williams, Senior Director of Formation and Leadership Development 

One of the central tenets of Vincentian spirituality is trust in Divine Providence. We are called to trust that God will provide what is needed for things to work out for the best. In theory, this sounds quite simple, because we know that God is good and that He loves us. In practice, though, we slowly come to realize that our trust is needed not because of what we know, but because of what we do not know.

Every Conference probably has some miraculous story about a time when, just as they had offered their last dollar in assistance, an entirely unexpected donation arrived. It happens often enough that we can hardly call it “unexpected” anymore. These stories offer comforting reassurance for our trust in Providence. God, after all, has so often provided “what is needed” to our treasuries that we, along with Bl. Frédéric, can happily conclude that “to do works of charity, it is never necessary to worry about financial resources, they always come.” [121, To his mother, 1836]

It’s easy to trust when we receive what we think is needed. We are called to trust not only that God will provide what is needed, but that He knows what is needed even when it makes no sense to us; that He alone knows the best way for things to work out.

Reflecting years later on the founding of the first Confraternity of Charity at Châtillon-les-Dombes, which marked the beginning of the Vincentian Family, St. Vincent saw something other than his own achievement in response to a sick family in his parish. Instead, he insisted that it was entirely God’s idea, for it was not Vincent who had made that family sick.

Sometimes we can only see in hindsight the good that comes from events in our lives. It would have been very easy for Vincent to simply lament the family’s troubles or decide it would be too hard to help. It would also have been very easy for him to congratulate himself for having taken action. But Vincent understood that we are all called to help, and in that instance, God’s call came in the form of a family in need. God provided not funding but suffering which in turn led to a great flowering of charity among His servants who trusted in Him and sought to do His will.

Providence is not merely a generous donor, nor is it the cavalry arriving in the nick of time. To trust in Providence means abandoning ourselves to God’s will, trusting fully that if we act in accordance with His will, then the outcome, however it may appear to us, also will be His will. As St. Vincent reminds us, “the Will of God cannot be made known to us more clearly in events than when they happen without our intervention or in a way other than we requested.” [CCD V:459]

Contemplate

Do I allow myself to become frustrated when things don’t work out as I’d planned?

Recommended Reading

Mystic of Charity

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