We are here today to give thanks to God—the very meaning of Eucharist—for the innumerable blessings and graces bestowed on the “Little Company” from its foundation to the present. Even though, the actual foundation of our Congregation took place 400 years ago in the home of the de Gondis on 17 April 1625, the inspiration for our Congregation, as well as that of the International Association of Charities and the Daughters of Charity, dates from 1617, the year of the Charism. There were two parts to this inspiration: Folleville in January and Châtillon in August.
As we all know, Vincent preached the first “Sermon of the Mission,” on 25 January 1617 in the parish church of Folleville. A few days earlier, he had heard the confession of a dying peasant in Gannes, who later declared that he would have been dammed without it. Frightened by this admission, and realizing that other people on her estates might be in the same situation, Madame de Gondi asked, “Ah, M. Vincent! How many souls are being lost! How can this be remedied?” Or, in other words, “What must be done?” which has become known as the Vincentian question. She urged Vincent to preach on the need for general confession. As Vincent explained, “God had such regard for the confidence and good faith of that lady … that He blessed what I said; and those good people were so moved by God that they all came to make their general confession.” Thus, Vincent became aware of the spiritual poverty of the country people. He would take steps to alleviate it by gathering a few good priests to join him in catechizing the rural poor, eventually leading to our foundation.
August of that same year found him serving as a pastor in Châtillon-les-Dombes, where, on a Sunday morning as he was vesting for Mass, he was told of a family in dire poverty on the outskirts of the village. Everyone was sick, without anyone to help them. Taken by their plight, he recommended the family to his parishioners during the sermon. Again, as Vincent explained to the Daughters of Charity, “God, touching the hearts of those who heard me, moved them with compassion for those poor afflicted people.” He thus became aware of the material poverty of the people in rural villages. When, later in the afternoon, he witnessed almost a procession of the faithful going to or returning from that family’s home, he realized that their generosity was too much all at once and needed to be organized. This led to the foundation of the Confraternities of Charity, which we know today as the AIC: the International Association of Charities.
Some of those Ladies, particularly in Paris, were unable to carry out the humble services to the sick-poor, but young women from the countryside presented themselves to do so. Eventually, they gathered in the home of Louise de Marillac for formation, which led to the foundation of the Daughters of Charity. Thus, between 1617 and 1633, in the space of 16 years, Vincent’s three foundations in favor of the poor came into being. He had recognized the truth of what one of his confreres frequently expressed, “… the poor common people are starving for the word of God and are being allowed to die of hunger, for want of assistance.”
You will note that each of Vincent’s foundations involved the laity. He never worked alone. He always depended upon the collaboration of others. All of his foundations originated with and were nourished by prayer and action, perceived through attentive listening and study of the Gospel, as well as through discernment and in obedience to the “Will of God,” in celebration of the sacraments of the Eucharist and reconciliation, in recognition of the reality of the poor, and in journeying with the laity, which helped him become aware of the Lord’s call.
Let us now reflect briefly on how this history fits into the context of our liturgy today. In the first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, we learn that “the community of believers was of one heart and mind” and that “there was no needy person among them,” because all gave freely of their possessions to be “distributed to each according to need.” Is this not what we are called to do: to give freely of ourselves—of our time, talents, and treasures—for the relief of those who are poor? In this way, we continue the mission of Christ on earth by bringing both spiritual and material assistance to those in need. The responsorial psalm declares what is our reward: “Happy are those who care for the poor.”
The Gospel outlines for us the two great commandments: love of God and love of neighbor. These form the foundation of all charitable action. We would not be able to carry out our mission of evangelization and service without love for God and all God’s people.
In Folleville and Châtillon, Vincent’s responses to the situations were both prophetic and synodal. He recognized what God was asking of him and involved others in the actions that followed. We too must reflect on what God is asking of us and put it into action. We also are called to be prophets in this world and labor in synodality with others. We must put into practice the words of Jesus to a scholar of the law, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).
Let me leave the last words to our Holy Founder himself:
O my Savior, You waited sixteen hundred years to raise up for yourself a Company that professes expressly that it will continue the mission Your Father sent You to carry out on earth, and which uses the same means You did, making profession of observing poverty, chastity, and obedience. O my Savior, I have never thanked You for this; I do so now for all those present and absent. In Your eternal plans You destined us for this ministry; grant that we may carry it out by Your holy grace! But, O Savior of our souls, look at those whom You are using for the conversion of people and to continue your mission—poor people like us! What a subject of embarrassment for us! O Lord, grant us the grace to make ourselves worthy of this ministry and of our vocation.
Tomaž Mavrič, CM
Superior General
