This article discusses the spirituality of praying with the Vincentian communities. It describes how Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac founded communities dedicated to serving the poor in 17th century France. Their approach integrated prayer and active service, finding God in encounters with those in need. Their spirituality emphasizes respecting human dignity, cultivating relationships with people on the margins of society, reflective living, collaboration, and seeing God in everyday moments. The article provides an overview of how the Vincentian charism has spread and been adapted to different times and places over the centuries.

1. prAying
Praying with
the Vincentian
Communities
Tap into a spiritual tradition that can enrich
your prayer life p by Regina BeChtle, SC
A
t a recent retreat for my the poor of Paris for more than 50
community, the question years: “Never have I prayed so well
was posed: “When have you as in the streets.”
felt most like a Sister of Charity?” So how might we define Vin-
One after another, stories poured centian spirituality as lived today
out. Each one reverently described by Sisters and Daughters of Char-
an encounter — with a lonely ity, Vincentian priests and broth-
©i sto ck ph oto.com / cr e ative : D e sig n
child, a destitute family, a suffer- ers, laypersons in the Society of St.
ing patient, a confused student, Vincent de Paul and the Ladies of
a jobless immigrant. Each one Charity, and young members of
said, in so many words, “I truly Vincentian Marian Youth and vol-
live my vocation and most surely unteer groups?
touch God when I am in the pres- The answer starts with two
ence of persons in need.” That people in 17th-century France.
experience brought to mind the Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) was
words of Blessed Rosalie Rendu, a fired by passion to meet the mate-
Daughter of Charity who served rial and spiritual needs of persons
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2. the bronze statue of assumptionist founder
emmanuel d’alzon with a student, created by
Sister of Charity Margaret Beaudette, was
dedicated at assumption College in Worcester,
Massachusetts, in October 2010
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3. • praying
who were poor. With a talent for This way of Charity was rooted in
organizing others who shared Jesus’ own mission to “bring good
his passion, he began a group of news to the poor” (Luke 4:18), to
priests and Brothers, started par- set captives free, and to heal the
ish-based lay confraternities, and sick in body and spirit.
developed a vast network of chari-
table services.
Louise de Marillac (1591-
1660), a widowed mother and
T he story continued in 19th-cen-
tury America when Elizabeth
Ann Bayley Seton — a mother,
noblewoman, became Vincent’s widow, and convert — adapted
colleague. Together they gath- Vincent’s innovative model for her
ered ordinary women eager to new community, the Sisters of
serve the poor in Jesus’ name, and Charity. As the first group of apos-
taught them to find their cloister tolic (service-oriented) Religious
in city streets and sickrooms. In women founded in this country,
these “Daughters of Charity” they they began schools, cared for
successfully created a new way for orphans, and tended the sick. Their
women to live their vocation in “affective and effective” charity laid
the Church, not set apart from the firm foundations for the largely
world but finding God in its midst. immigrant Church.
The Vincentian spirit caught
fire in the young nation as oth-
ers like Catherine Spalding and
Discover the Xavier Ross began Religious
Vincentian family communities to serve frontier
at a glance settlers. Priests and Brothers of
There are more than 1 million the Congregation of the Mission
religious, priests, and members preached the Gospel and formed
of the Vincentian family, the clergy. Laywomen and men
(including those of the Society of spread the Vincentian spirit
St. Vincent de paul) through the Ladies of Charity and
the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Website:. For more information, Believing that “the charity of
visit famvin.org Christ impels us,” (2 Corinthians
5:14) these founders shaped a
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4. rich spiritual heri-
tage that integrates The spirit of
prayer and action. ST.VincenT de Paul
In their life experi-
ences, especially as Words that capture the spirit
they encountered of Vincent, though he never
persons in need, said them (they were written
they found a privi- by writer Jean anouilh for the film “Monsieur
leged meeting place Vincent”) are: “You will find that charity is a heavy
with God. burden, heavier than the bowl of soup and the full
These pioneers basket of bread. it is not enough to give soup and
had a knack for bread: The rich can do that. The poor ... will often
bending existing say harsh things to you, but you must keep your
structures so that gentleness and your smile. it is only because of
the poor might hear your love that the poor will forgive you the bread
the Good News that you give them.”
of Christ’s love.  SiSTer regina BechTle
They found a way
around, under, or
through situations
that seemed impossible, and kept social teaching, is respect for the
turning obstacles into opportuni- dignity of every person, especially
ties. To this day, a hallmark of the those who are poor. Vincent per-
Charity spirit is being “inventive ceived the world through a lens
to infinity,” in Vincent’s memo- that led him to see the other
rable phrase. In today’s complex person as a unique revelation
world, this means offering “a hand of God. Christ shines through
up rather than just a hand out” — the features of every person,
that is, seeking long-range, sys- especially those who live in pov-
temic solutions to poverty as well erty. Looking through this lens
as meeting immediate needs. invites us to see the face of Christ
behind the surface appearance
A nother core principle of the of a homeless person who hasn’t
Vincentian way, now embed- bathed in some time, a co-worker
ded as a keystone of Catholic whose irritating ways drive us
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5. • praying prAying
tionship. Because we belong to
faVoriTe each other, even to those “others”
who may at first seem different
VincenTian or unfamiliar, we try to cultivate
PraYerS a hospitality of the heart that val-
Some of the Vincentians’ favorite ues relationships and community
prayers are quotes from Scripture above efficiency and productivity.
Becoming friends with people on
“ Let us bear one another’s burdens, and thus the margins, getting to know their
fulfill the law of Christ” galatianS 6:2 names and stories, may lead us far
beyond our comfort zone, but it is
“ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because
He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to
the path that Christ’s own charity
urges us to walk. We believe that
the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to this kind of love truly does change
captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to everything.
let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year Here’s an example: A wealthy
acceptable to the Lord.” luke 4:18-19 downtown lawyer decided to vol-
unteer at a nursing home. So did
“ The Charity of Christ impels us.”
2 CORinthianS 5:14
several women from the poor-
er neighborhood nearby. After
the volunteers pushed residents’
“ God is love, and all who live in love live in
God, and God in them.” 1 JOhn 4:16
wheelchairs, they would eat lunch
together, swapping stories and
family pictures. As the women
 SiSTer regina BechTle
from the edge of poverty became
friends with the man from the lap
crazy, or a starving child halfway of wealth, they opened his eyes to
around the world. Vincent taught a world he had never known. The
a profound theological truth: To experience changed who and what
love the person in need is to love and how he saw. And when one’s
God. Let the poor teach you, he way of seeing and acting changes,
would counsel, and count your- so does one’s way of praying.
selves privileged to be in their
company.
Yet another hallmark is rela- T he Vincentian way cultivates the
habit of reflective living. Simple
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6. Love is inventive
to infinity.  St. Vi n c e n t de Pa u l
questions like “Where is God in than “either-or.” In the family of
this experience? How is God being God, everyone belongs; at the
revealed in the people and situa- table of Charity, there is room for
tions that fill my day?” can start everyone.
us on the path of contemplative Trust in Providence led the
awareness. Prayer rooted in reflec- great figures of our tradition to
tion on real life deepens our sense take huge risks with little certitude.
of connectedness with others. It They sought to do God’s will and
attunes us to discern God’s lead- trusted mightily that God would
ing in each moment, so we might give them the necessary wisdom
see and “do what is before us to and resources. Providence sustains
do,” in Vincent’s words. Reflective their followers today, who continue
living invites us to pay attention to accomplish extraordinary things
to the present moment, and so to with characteristic humility (hones-
the grace that unfailingly awaits ty), simplicity (single-mindedness),
us there. “Keep well to what you and zeal (passion and hard work).
believe to be the grace of the
moment,” advised Elizabeth Seton.
“Only do your best and leave the
rest to our dear God.”
V incent de Paul did not set out
to develop a formal teach-
ing on prayer or the spiritual life.
The way of Charity calls for col- Rather, he offers us a spiritual way
laboration. In service of Christ’s that is ordinary, down-to-earth,
mission, we gather collaborators rooted in real life — ours and that
and encourage inclusive commu- of the people we serve. It invites us
nities. Our spirituality invites us to enter into the mystery of God-
to build bridges rather than walls, in-our-midst, to look for manifes-
to be people of “both-and” rather tations of God within the events,
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7. • praying prAying
persons, and circumstances of our
ordinary lives. Where to
To sum it up, Vincentian spiri- learn more
tuality offers us a practical, ordi- You can further
nary way of seeing, loving, and explore the
serving the Christ who meets us spirituality of
in the person in need. It is a way Saints Vincent
that learns from experience, builds de Paul, louise
relationships, trusts Providence, de marillac, and
acts creatively, and finds God in elizabeth Seton in
everyday moments, reflective the Praying with… series from Word
prayer, and simple people. CD among us Press, 15 Days of Prayer
With… series from liguori Press,
regina Bechtle, a Sister of charity of and A Retreat With… series from
new York, is a spiritual director, retreat St. anthony Messenger Press.
leader, and writer who co-edited the  SiSTer regina BechTle
collected writings of St. elizabeth Seton.
qnext month praying With the franciscans
Don’t eVen think about it
anyone who uses the phrase “easy as taking candy from
a baby” has never tried taking candy from a baby.
100 yearS of Walking
a wise old man celebrating his 100th birthday got a
visit from a local television reporter. “are you able to get out and walk
much?” the reporter asked.
“Well,” said the man with a wry smile, “i certainly walk better today
than i could a hundred years ago.”
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