"Let us cherish the poor as our masters, since Our Lord is in them and they are in the Lord." - Saint Vincent de Paul
"If you really want to know, one of my ideas is that I would abolish certain conferences of St. Vincent ...not because the members are acting out of bad faith, but because it’s not adapted to modern times."
Having Christian zeal and good intentions wasn't enough, from Pier Giorgio's standpoint. The key to true charity was to instruct the ignorant and admonish the sinners but still attend to their physical and financial needs. His approach considered the whole person, body and soul. Of course, the sheer number of people he helped over the course of his lifetime prepared him to assess new situations quickly and respond lovingly. I don't know about you but I definitely need more practice.
In honor of the feast of St. Vincent de Paul this Sunday and following the example of Blessed Frassati, let us commit to doing one concrete work of charity, spiritual or material, for someone the Lord places in our path. And, if you haven't already, consider joining The Pact. That "revolution of charity" Pope John Paul II spoke of in 1990 is long overdue and it's up to me and you.
Verso l'alto! ///cmw