Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 27th September 2023

​September 27th marks the feast day of St Vincent de Paul, the French priest, who died on this day in 1660. He was renowned for his work among galley slaves and founded the Congregation of the Mission, commonly known as the Vincentians or Lazarists, to work among the poor in small towns and villages, preach retreats to clergy and support local seminaries. He also founded the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul. There was a time when every parish had a Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP), whose members did capital work among the poor. It’s sad to see such great pastoral and charitable groups reduced to practically nothing today.

 

​Our Gospel passage from Luke, (Lk 9: 1-16), sees Jesus preparing the Twelve for their mission of preaching the Gospel and healing the sick. “Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” It’s important to note that power goes hand in hand with authority and that there can be no healing in the integral Christian sense without the proclamation of the Good News, who is Christ himself. Jesus then gives them some quite radical instructions as to how they should carry out their mission. He is nothing if not practical. “Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money; and let none of you take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there; and when you leave, let it be from there. As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave their town shake the dust from your feet as a sign to them.” The Twelve are to rely entirely on Divine Providence, for they go forth in faith in Jesus’ name and with his authority and power. They are to accept hospitality, but if a welcome is not forthcoming, then they are to leave that village with neither a curse nor a blessing, but shaking the dust from their feet. Once Jesus has given his instructions, off they go, obedient to his command. “So they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.” St Vincent de Paul followed the example of the Twelve. Let’s hope that we might do as well.