for Vincentians

1. Being Evangelized by the Poor
Based on the article “Being Evangelized by the Poor“ by Eva Villar in Vincentiana

2. Anyone who has
spent any time
among the poor,
[the sick, persons in
need] discovers
that there are
“seeds of the word”
preciously hidden
within them that
end up evangelizing
us.

3. We discover virtues
within our brothers
and sisters in need
that “judge” our
choices and
lifestyle.

4. The poor are our lords
and masters for they are
the suffering image of
Jesus, our Lord and
Master. This is from a
theological perspective
but St. Vincent and St.
Louise knew about the
sociological aspect.
Both knew, from their
numerous contacts, just
how demanding, unjust,
temperamental and
ungrateful their “lords”
could be.

5. But at the same
time they saw how
those who served
them did so with
care and affection
because when
serving a master,
one listens.
For Vincentians, the
poor become
masters whom we
serve out of love.

6. To Vincentians, the
poor become
visible… we spend
the time and make
the effort [to go to,
and get to know,
people with whom
we otherwise might
not normally come
in contact].

7. The poor are our
teachers because their
needs and their
situations can show us
God's Will for how we
are to act. They
challenge us with their
suffering; invite us to
more radical poverty;
show us the sting of
poverty. One learns
from a master, and
Vincentians learn from
the poor how to go to
God and draw nearer
to Jesus Christ.

8. Their suffering calls
out to us and invites
us to live out a more
radical poverty. Thus,
the other person
evangelizes us.

9. [After meeting
someone new], we
should remind
ourselves that we are
there with them
because Jesus told us
“go and evangelise,”
because the Church,
our association, our
community has sent
us. Jesus Himself says
to us though them: “go
and teach.”

10. But… “We must
encircle the poor with
much delicacy and
prudence; we cannot
arrive with our bags
full of knowledge (our
goods). The poor
evangelize us and
send us back to our
own poverty.”
- Fr. Robert Maloney, C.M.

11. Being close to [poor
persons] and serving
them, we better
understand the
commandment of
love. When we spend
less time and energy
on our own selfish
needs because we are
busy with those we
love, life is completely
changed. We better
understand the gospel
and it has a place in
our lives that it did not
have before.

12. Source:
Based on the article “Being Evangelized by the Poor“
by Eva Villar, International President of MISEVI
Vincentiana, July 12, 2002
photos: unsplash.com