In 1947,“Monsieur Vincent” won the Academy Award for the best film, and Pierre Fresnay, who played Vincent, received the Best Actor’s award. The film was not always historically accurate, but historians were unanimous in agreeing that no other film every captured the spirit of St. Vincent as well as this one. And as a drama, that was its purpose: to convey Vincent’s spirit. Here is its final scene, just before his death.
https://youtu.be/MDBXyc46iEs?si=JlEusJN0BGwvDF2K
The topic that Fr. Tomaz has asked me to address today is this: “How can we revitalize our charism? How can we make it even more alive!” I invite you to address that topic with me.
My intention today is to use the words of St. Vincent himself to offer you a series of challenges. I encourage you to think along with me and to ask yourself: how can these challenges be addressed in my Province or my diocese? Is there a small way, or even a big way, in which I can respond to these words of St. Vincent.
“Go! Go everywhere!” (August 20, 1655)
St. Vincent cried out to the confreres: “Go into the whole world, into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). … We have the same mandate as the Apostles!”[1]
Vincent knew that mission was not just an aspect of the Church. It is the Church’s very being. Mission is not just an aspect of the Congregation. It is our very being.
Vincent was deeply conscious of that. In his lifetime he sent confreres to Poland, Italy, Algeria, Madagascar, Ireland, Scotland, the Hebrides, and the Orkneys.
I am delighted to say that in very recent years, Provinces and the General Curia have opened or are about to open new Missions ad Gentes:
You who are Visitors in Provinces with numerous vocations: open new missions.
You who are Visitors in Provinces with few vocations: are there members of your Province who are yearning to go to a foreign mission? Or might you finance a new mission that another Province is launching? It is not that expensive.
You who are bishops, are there members of your diocese who would love to have a foreign missionary experience for five years? They will enrich your diocese when they return.
Fr. Robert Maloney
[1] CCD:XI:237. CCD refers to Vincent de Paul, Correspondence, Conference, Documents edited by Pierre Coste,, translators into English: Helen Marie Law, DC (Vol. 1), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 1-13b), James King, CM (Vol. 1-2), Francis Germovnik, CM (Vol. 1-8, 13a-13b [Latin]), Esther Cavanagh, DC (Vol. 2), Ann Mary Dougherty, DC (Vol. 12); Evelyne Franc, DC (Vol. 13a-13b), Thomas Davitt, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Glennon E. Figge, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), John G. Nugent, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Andrew Spellman, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]); edited: Jacqueline Kilar, DC (Vol. 1-2), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 2-13b), Julia Denton, DC [editor-in-chief] (Vol. 3-10, 13a-13b), Paule Freeburg, DC (Vol. 3), Mirian Hamway, DC (Vol. 3), Elinor Hartman, DC (Vol. 4-10, 13a-13b), Ellen Van Zandt, DC (Vol. 9-13b), Ann Mary Dougherty (Vol. 11-12); annotated: John W. Carven, CM (Vol. 1-13b); New City Press, Brooklyn and Hyde Park, 1985-2014. Recently, Fr. John Rybolt has published four volumes online of previously unpublished letters, conferences and documents of Vincent de Paul. These can be found at and downloaded from Saint Vincent de Paul / Correspondence, Conferences, Documents (English translation) | Correspondence, Conferences, and Documents of St. Vincent de Paul | DePaul University
