Series for 400th anniversary Fr. Rolando Gutiérrez, C.M.

1. FOLLEVILLE AND CHÂTILLON: ORIGIN OF
THE TWO TERMS: CHARITY – MISSION
REFLECTION
Rolando Gutiérrez, CM Vice-Province of Costa Rica invites us to reflect

2. A TIME TO
UNDERSTAND
Jubilee Year on the
Occasion of the
400th Anniversary of
the Vincentian Charism

3. ORIGIN OF THE TWO TERMS: CHARITY – MISSION ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND
The charism of the Vincentians is
based on two pillars that gave rise
to it in 1617 and that 400 years
later remain the two sides of its
banner: mission and charity.
At the beginning of January,
Madame de Gondi, to whom the
lands of Folleville belonged, was
accompanied by her children’s
tutor on a visit to her domains.
While there, Vincent de Paul was
called to assist an elderly peasant
who was on his deathbed in the
village of Gannes, about 13
kilometers from the Folleville
Château.

4. The room bore an appearance of death from the sick man’s
face, but a new charism’s life was being born in Vincent’s heart
as he realized the spiritual abandonment of poor country
people. Vincent’s soul no longer experienced the same
tranquility with which he arrived on those lands. A few days
later, the First Sermon of the Mission, issued from this need:
That took place in the month of January 1617, and, on the
twenty-fifth, the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, that lady
asked me to preach a sermon in the church of Folleville to
urge the people to make a general confession, which I did,
pointing out to them its importance and usefulness. Then I
taught them how to make it properly; and God had such
regard for the confidence and good faith of that lady – for the
large number and enormity of my sins would have hindered
the success of this act – that He blessed what I said; and those
good people were so moved by God that they all came to
make their general confession … That was the first sermon of
the Mission and the success God gave it on the feast of the
Conversion of Saint Paul, and He certainly had a plan in mind
on that day” (CCD XI, 3-4).
ORIGIN OF THE TWO TERMS: CHARITY – MISSION ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND

5. We know well what would happen in the
succeeding months. Vincent fled from the de
Gondi house, in which he had lived since 1613,
because now so much comfort bothered him. He
arrived at the abandoned Parish of Châtillon-les-
Dombes to which he was appointed pastor on 29
July and took possession on 1 August. This was
the second scenario, which completed what had
been born months before in Folleville.
On one of the new pastor’s first Sundays, we
suppose it to have been 20 August, shortly
before Mass began, once again a woman, Mlle.
de la Chassaigne, told Vincent of the poverty and
abandonment of a sick family. In the homily, the
natural gifts of the saint and the grace of God
moved hearts to the point that abundant charity
did not make the family wait. However, the
people’s response was not very satisfactory for
the parish priest, because it lacked organization.
ORIGIN OF THE TWO TERMS: CHARITY – MISSION ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND
Châtillon, church interior

6. Thus, on 23 August 1617, the first
Confraternity of Charity was born with
two very clear aims: to assist (the sick
poor) body and soul: the body by
nourishing it and tending to its
ailments; the soul by preparing those
who seem to be tending toward
death to die well, and preparing
those who will recover to live a good
life (CCD XIIIB, 3).
ORIGIN OF THE TWO TERMS: CHARITY – MISSION ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND

7. The following 43 years of Saint Vincent de Paul’s
life will be marked by those two events, Folleville,
the beginning of the Mission, and Châtillon, the
start of organized Charity. Two different scenarios,
but with a common need: poverty; the same heart
of a shepherd who allowed himself to be
questioned by his sheep, Marguerite de Silly and
Mlle. de la Chassaigne; the same response that
overcomes selfishness and comfort to dedicate
himself to the service of the poor.
Therefore, 1617 represents the year of inventive
love, charity that can no longer remain idle, but is
carried out in the mystique of action; the ever-
creative mission of one who has passed through
Folleville and Châtillon and can no longer
continue to live calmly among his selfish comforts.
ORIGIN OF THE TWO TERMS: CHARITY – MISSION ・ A TIME TO UNDERSTAND

8. A TIME TO
CONTEMPLATE
Jubilee Year on the
Occasion of the
400th Anniversary of
the Vincentian Charism

9. From what we have read and from what
we already know, let us pause to
contemplate the scenes of Folleville
and Châtillon:
1. What is the most striking of these
events for me?
2. What moment confronts me more in
my commitment as a Vincentian?
What arouses in my heart the need
that Saint Vincent saw and how does
it coincide with our strangers today?
It is recommended that you read a
chapter of some biography or from
Saint Vincent’s writings CCD XI, 2-4
and/or CCD XIIIA, 49-57.
ORIGIN OF THE TWO TERMS: CHARITY – MISSION ・ A TIME TO CONTEMPLATE

10. A TIME TO
MEDITATE
Jubilee Year on the
Occasion of the
400th Anniversary of
the Vincentian Charism

11. Examining my journey within the Vincentian
Family, I calmly try to identify, and then
share in a group:
1. The need that one day brought me to be
part of this charism: Who was my “dying
patient” or my “poor sick family”? What
was my “Folleville” or my “Châtillon”?
2. What urges me again and again to
remain committed to the work of
mission-charity: Who is my Marguerite
de Silly, or my Mlle. de la Chassaigne?
3. What is my response-commitment to the
poor? Am I able to overcome selfishness
and comfort or do I settle for wearing a
simple title of “Vincentian” without
action?
ORIGIN OF THE TWO TERMS: CHARITY – MISSION ・ A TIME TO MEDITATE

12. A TIME TO
COMMIT
Jubilee Year on the
Occasion of the
400th Anniversary of
the Vincentian Charism

13. How will we make this year the year
of inventive charity as it was in 1617?
ORIGIN OF THE TWO TERMS: CHARITY – MISSION ・ A TIME TO COMMIT

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