"Extend mercy
towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet
without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw
His mercy from us?" St. Vincent de Paul
Today is the feast
day of the Patron of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Today is a
day we should reflect upon the work that we and hundreds of thousands of
others across the world do in the name of St. Vincent; and to ask for
God's blessing on that work.
Frederic Ozanam,
and the other founders, chose St. Vincent de Paul as the patron saint
for the Society because of his commitment to serving the poor. Yet it is
important to know that he actually entered the priesthood to make a
good life for himself and his family. It was his ministry that changed
his heart to seek not his own welfare, but the welfare of the poor.
Today, St. Vincent has become known as "the Apostle of Charity" and "the Father of the Poor."
St. Vincent once said "Let us love God my brothers, let us love God. But let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow."
So today, as every
day, we ask God to continue to change our hearts so that we may serve
our neighbors in need through the 'strength of our arms and the sweat of
our brow' - and by doing this let us love God and one another.
Peace and God bless,
John Berry
Executive Director
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