Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Dear Vincentian Friends,

Over the years, I have observed a few things about the Conferences that regularly attract new members. Here are three notable characteristics that I see in these Conferences. First, they engage members frequently in activities that involve direct contact with neighbors in need. Second, they pray together and share their personal spiritual journeys. Third, the members enjoy each other’s company and share a sense of humor. I hope all of that sounds like your Conference.

We often focus on the first two points, but we should not underestimate the importance of the third. Last month in his annual Circular Letter, our international president, Renato Lima de Oliveira, announced that this year we would study Jules Gossin, our second international president. Gossin also wrote annual Circular Letters giving advice to the members of the Society.

In his letter dated Nov. 1, 1847, Gossin wrote, “No Conference offends against propriety or charity, because laughter is allowed amongst its members. Sometimes laughter is even excellent: it revives attention, prevents sleep, excites cordiality and appeases too violent discussions. It would no doubt be improper to go to a Conference meeting in hopes of finding or provoking occasions of hilarity. We must, on the contrary, consider attendance at the Conference as a serious duty. But it is no contradiction to consider a Charitable Society quite seriously, and at the same time to yield to the free and communicative gaiety that pervades it at certain times.”

Economic conditions were extremely poor in late 1847. France was in a depression, and revolution was in the air again. In 1847 most of our members were young professional men. Jules Gossin was an older, well-established lawyer and magistrate; like Emmanuel Bailly, he was a bit of a father figure to them. He was very experienced in working with the poor of Paris and knew the challenges our members faced. In this tense environment, he takes the time in his annual letter to encourage them to enjoy each other’s company and suggests that they welcome humor in their meetings.

This is still good advice for us today. The work we do can be difficult and discouraging. We know that we need to have a spiritual foundation for our efforts. We rely on God’s grace to get us through, but our work is made easier when we serve with friends who can find occasions to laugh.

I enjoy studying the history of our founders because I see how they had the same thoughts and struggles that we have today. We are part of a long line of Christians trying to live out our faith by serving our neighbors in need. Gossin shared his lived experience, which can still be meaningful to us today. Here is a gem found in the same letter quoted above, and it’s a piece of advice I have found to be profoundly true: “Of all the consolations which we can afford the poor, the greatest and rarest is that given by our ear, when we listen to them.”

Father figure that he was, Jules Gossin ended this – his final presidential Circular Letter – by encouraging the members to moderate their use of the “pipe, cigar and cigarette” and to “resolve to buy bread every day with what we save.” He observed that “soon we shall be both surprised and delighted at enjoying better health and at having supported some poor person.”

Some form of moderation may be part of our Lenten practice at this time of the year. We can take Gossin’s advice and “resolve to buy bread every day with what we save” to support those needing our help. Let’s also take his advice by making our Conference meetings enjoyable. Does anyone want to share a humorous Lenten story?

Serviens in spe,
Ralph Middlecamp
National Council President

Sometimes the sign is right in front of you.

The hotel staff would come by to clean the room unless I put the Do Not Disturb sign on my door. Since I had work papers all over the place, I didn’t want the risk of having some or all of them tossed away. While still in the room, imagine my surprise when I heard the knock and “Housekeeping” call at my door. I answered and politely declined the service. I then left for a couple of hours. When I returned, with the sign still on the door, the phone rang. The friendly hotel person said they were doing a “wellness check” on me. Why would they do that? Because the Do Not Disturb sign was on my door for hours. I said that I was okay, thanks, and didn’t want to be disturbed. “Oh, we didn’t know,” she replied. “That’s why I had the sign, the one that says, you know, Do Not Disturb on it.”

Sometimes we read the signs and move ahead anyway.

Joe was pulled over for a traffic stop. “You didn’t stop at the Stop sign,” the officer politely told Joe. “I need to give you a ticket.” “But I know I slowed down,” replied Joe, “What’s the difference?” The officer pulled out his steel baton and began tapping it on the windshield. “Hey, what are you doing? You might chip my glass. Please stop doing that!” implored Joe. The officer smiled, kept tapping, and replied, “You sure you don’t want me just to slow down?”

Every day, we see signs of God’s graces in our lives. We wake up, which in itself is a pretty good start! We see the sunrise. As Vincentians, we get to serve the Lord and our neighbors and feel good about doing so. We make and continue friendships to make life worth living. We have food and drink to nourish ourselves, blessings from God’s goodness. If we look each day, and sometimes we need to look more closely than on other days, we see signs of God’s miracles all around us. Let’s be intentional in our being thankful, instead of focusing on the negatives we let control our spirits without our permission.

Sometimes to see the signs, we need a little help.

When we celebrate Mass in communion with our family and friends, we are reminded through the Gospel and readings of God’s presence in our lives. If we just allow it, faith flows into our hearts. We leave the church refreshed.

So many of our neighbors, and even our family members, have left their faith. For the first time in our country’s history, those expressing “no faith” regardless of their family’s history are nearing the majority. The signs of God and Heaven are all around them, but they either believe that all those blessing don’t flow from a divine presence, that “science” explains everything, or that they make their own luck. They believe that even the miracle of their own human birth is just something that happens in nature by random coincidence; they could have been a blade of grass or a parakeet.

Even the explorers needed a trail guide.

Yes, the signs of a living God are all around us. Maybe, though, some need help to see them. Explorers often use a guide to see what they can’t, the hidden signs and clues provided by others that their destination was ahead of them. Edmund Hillary didn’t ascend Mt. Everest on his own; the Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (look it up) showed him the signs along the way.

At some times in our life we are the explorers, and at others we are, or can be, a guide for others. Often, when we serve as guides we learn a little bit more ourselves, don’t we? What can we do today, even right now, to be a guide for someone we care about? How can we help others to see the signs of Christ we see often? We are blessed to be Vincentians and to undertake a life journey of greater holiness. Who can we bring along with us, if even for a little while, on our journey?

Yours in Christ,
Dave Barringer
CEO