Vincentians, let us reconnect with Hope made flesh

In his New Year message, Jean Rolex, CM, invites Vincentians to reflect on the importance of hope founded in Christ. After a year of challenges and lessons, now is the time to renew our commitment to charity, solidarity and universal brotherhood. Discover how to live 2025 with faith, simplicity and creativity, following the Vincentian charism.

Dear Vincentians, As this special year comes to an end, it is our turn to evaluate it. An assessment to realise that man is fragile and limited in time and space. This fragility inherent in his human condition has been laid bare by the Covid-19 pandemic, the harmful aftermath of wars, global warming and the increasing total dependence on technology. As followers of St Vincent de Paul, known for his compassion and service to those most in need, we have all, in a sense, experienced throughout this year 2024 how fragile we were.

But, on the other hand, this same year has shown us the greatness of the human being. Greatness that has been manifested by many in the way we treat the little ones. Throughout the history of humanity, in extreme situations there have always arisen good and courageous men and women to remind us that man is not simply misery, but capable of great things. St. Vincent de Paul himself has been an example of courage and goodness. His work and his influence at the royal court had a significant impact on improving the social and political situation in the 17th century.

Indeed, the world will be changed for the better by these brave, bold and good men and women. We cannot deny how bitter this year has been. However, we cannot forget the graces we have received from it. For this reason, as Vincentians, we are called to hope in this new year that is already beginning. The hope that is born of who we are as dignities created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1,27). The hope that is born in firm trust in the promises of God, who sustains us even in difficult times[1] . Hope that is born of who we are as sons and daughters of our culture and our people. Hope, in this sense, is not a passing illusion, but a deep conviction that God is always with us and that God’s promise will not be disappointed . [2]

This new year that has already begun is about reconnecting ourselves with Hope made flesh, that is, with Christ. With Christ everything is born and reborn. Indeed, this new year is about being reborn. That is to say, to recover our best version.

So we Vincentians begin to thank God for the year 2024 and to learn from the problems. Although not everything was better, nevertheless, from this year, we have all grown positively as people and Vincentians. It is now up to us to live the year 2025 with hope and creativity. Hope that things can get better, because in the world there are still noble, good and creative men and women. Men and women who are not afraid of “inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun”. Men and women who are ready to make this new year a time of reflection, renewal and action in service to others. Ready to stand up for respect for creation, solidarity with the poor and collective action. Ready to opt for universal fraternity, that is, a fraternity that “allows us to recognise, value and love each person beyond physical proximity, beyond the place in the universe where they were born or where they live[3] “.

Our life is always subject to revision. There is nothing perfect in the world. Only God is perfect. That is why this new year is a time for an in-depth review, from our yes to the passage of God in our Vincentian being and doing. We thank God for the year 2024 because, in spite of everything, it has taught us to value the small, to look at life with simplicity, respect and love. To simplify our life, to discard what is superfluous and to live soberly. In reality, the formula for living better is to simplify everything. It is to regain good humour no matter what. According to some, good humour “is synonymous with mental health”. There is no reason not to go back to smiling and making others laugh. As Elbert rightly says: “Don’t take life too seriously. You won’t come out of it alive. St. Vincent de Paul himself exhorted to “always be cheerful, even if you have to diminish a little that little seriousness which nature has given you and which grace sweetens, by the mercy of God” (I, 499).

Finally, reconnecting with Hope made flesh implies forgiving and asking for forgiveness in time; it is doing something for others, i.e. helping the other to be better. But all this implies conversion of mind, heart and attitudes. To be converted in this sense does not mean to be another person but to live differently. It is to be different. To be different in this sense means to live from Christ. Living from Christ calls for: “turning our pride into humility, our greed into generosity, our gluttony into temperance, our anger into meekness, our lust into chastity, our selfishness into charity, our laziness into effort, our mediocrity into fervour.”

To connect with Hope is to be attentive, because God continues to speak and to count on each one of us. Man, being the image of God, is capable of God. The desire for the infinite is inscribed in his heart. That is why man has always been a seeker of the infinite, of the divine. Well then, Vincentians, in this year 2025, let us opt for the divine. Let us choose the path that leads to God. Let us let ourselves be guided by the star of human, Christian and Vincentian virtues. May the Vincentian witness be a leaven of genuine hope in the world, a proclamation of new heavens and a new earth (cf. 2 Pet 3:13), where justice and harmony among peoples dwell, oriented towards the fulfilment of the Lord’s promise .[4]

By Jean Rolex, CM

[1] Francis (2014). Hope never disappoints. Crisis-Promise-Trust. Claretiana, Buenos Aires.

[2] Ibid,

[3] Francis (2020). Encyclical Letter, Fratelli Tutti on fraternity and social friendship. Retrieved from https://www.vatican.va/.

[4] Francis (2024). Hope does not disappoint. Retrieved from https://www.vatican.va/content/.

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