A reflection by Fr. Rolando Gutiérrez, CM, Vice-Province of Costa Rica.

1. EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN
CHARISM
REFLECTION
Rolando Gutiérrez, CM Vice-Province of Costa Rica invites us to re
fl
ect

2. A TIME TO
UNDERSTAND

3. EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND
Evangelii Gaudium, the
fi
rst Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis,
highlights and clari
fi
es the theology of joy that is based on an encounter
with the Risen Lord: with Christ joy is constantly born anew (EG, #1).
Four hundred years after the birth of our charism, the ideas, which have
been emphasized by Pope Francis, provide us with an insight that enables
us to reread our Vincentian spirituality during this Easter Season.

4. There is no doubt that Vincent de Paul
was a man of his era, one who was
in
fl
uenced by the French School of
spirituality and by the classical
theology that was taught at the
University of Toulouse. Such theology
did not include a development of the
virtue of joy nor a Christology that was
focused on the resurrection as an
historical event. Nevertheless, the life
and the ministry of the apostle of
charity has to be understood as a
whole since it is only in that way that
we avoid falsely interpreting
individual passages in his writings.
EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND

5. It is true that a life of service on behalf
of the poor demands sacri
fi
ce and
morti
fi
cation, but that does not mean
that Vincent and his followers were
bitter and/or resentful. Quite the
contrary … we discover that Vincent
spoke about service and dedication
to the poor as a lifestyle that brings
happiness to those who are
engaged in such a mission.
EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND

6. For example, in April 1656, Vincent wrote to a
Missionary who had recently made vows and stated:
“how happy are they who give themselves
unreservedly to him to do the works that Jesus Christ
did and to practice the virtues that he practiced, such
as poverty, obedience, humility, patience, zeal and
the rest” (CCD:V:585). On October 29th, 1638
Vincent reminded the Missionaries that they must
neither seek nor expect rest, satisfaction and
blessings anywhere else but in the Congregation of
the Mission, since that’s the only place God wants
and desires them to be (CCD:XI:98). The same
message was spoken to the priests who gave retreats
to the ordinands, that is, he offered them advice and
encouraged them to live their lives in such a manner
that their witness in turn would motivate those who
were about to be ordained: “if possible you should
blend the three colors of modesty, cheerfulness and
gentleness” (CCD:XI:145).
EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND

7. We can say, although with a vocabulary
different from that of the Pope, that the root
of the Vincentian charism is in essence a
proposal of joy and joy in following Jesus
Christ evangelizing the poor; so that a
Vincentian can not live in an eternal Lent
without Easter (E.G. 6), can not wear a
permanent “funeral face” (E.G.1) because
the announcement that we bring to the
poor is the joy of the Risen Jesus Christ.
EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND

8. Four centuries later, as we re
fl
ect anew
on Vincent’s charismatic insight, we are
invited to be very careful about
interpreting the following of Jesus
Christ, evangelizing of the poor, as a
praise of the cross and suffering or as a
praise of the misery of those persons
who are poor. We must also not assume
that our spirituality is focused on
sacri
fi
ce and morti
fi
cation and great
works that can be performed by
individuals in some heroic
manner. Indeed, we must be careful
about interpreting our spirituality from
a perspective of the cross that neglects
the reality of the resurrection as an
event that
fi
lls the community with life
and newness.
EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND

9. When we are not careful in this regard, then, as
Pope Francis says, “our interior life becomes
caught up in its own interests and concerns …
there is no longer room for others, no place for
the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard; the
quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the
desire to do good fades … this is not God’s will
for us nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its
source in the heart of the risen Christ” (EG, #2).
As Vincent de Paul stated to the Daughters of
Charity, our lot, our Vincentian vocation
consists of a participation in the very joy of
God: “God’s pleasure, his joy, his satisfaction,
so to speak, is to be with the humble and the
simple who are conscious of their lowliness.
What a great incentive for hope and
consolation for us!” (CCD:IX:309).
EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND

10. A TIME TO
CONTEMPLATE

11. We suggest that the various Vincentian groups can
re
fl
ect and dialogue together by putting some
form of light or a candle in their midst, thus
reminding the participants of the Easter
light. Around the light or the candle the following
words can be written in large letters so that
everyone might see them. The participants will
re
fl
ect on those words:
JOY, HAPPINESS, DEATH, SADNESS,
FRUSTRATION, RESURRECTION
It is important to provide silence so that
participants can re
fl
ect on the following questions:
what image comes to mind as I re
fl
ect on this
word (one of the six words above); what memory
is stirred up as I re
fl
ect on this word? After some
time of silence, it would be good to share one’s
thoughts with the others who have gathered
together to participate in this sharing.
EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO CONTEMPLATE

12. A TIME TO
MEDITATE

13. For this month of April we propose
that the group respond to the
following question: how, in our family,
in our Vincentian group, in the larger
community, do we communicate the
joy, the newness and the message of
the risen Christ?
EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO MEDITATE

14. A TIME TO
COMMIT

15. The Easter event gives meaning to all
the various Vincentian works
throughout the world. As Saint Paul
says: if Christ has not risen, then our
preaching is in vain. Therefore, our
commitment should help us to give
greater witness to the risen Christ.
More speci
fi
cally, let us consider
accepting some new responsibility
during this Easter Season. Let us be,
for those persons who are poor, an
image of the Risen Lord who shares
with all people the gifts of joy and
hope and who offers them the
opportunity to begin anew.
EASTER JOY AND THE VINCENTIAN CHARISM ・ A TIME TO COMMIT

16. by Rolando Gutiérrez, CM Vice-Province of Costa Rica
Translated: Charles T. Plock, CM Eastern Province, USA
presentation by