Homily: Feast of St. Vincent DePaul

Feast of St. Vincent DePaul (Lk 9:18-22) “Poor in Spirit”

How often have we heard it said that he/she is hard and crusty on the outside but on the inside, they have a heart of gold? This is a perfect description of St. Vincent DePaul.

He was born to poor peasant farmers in France in 1580. It looked like he would be a farmer himself, but a parish priest began to educate him. He showed a good aptitude for learning. There were no seminaries until after the Council of Trent in 1563, so Vincent was educated in clerical life as many were before him by a parish priest. It was like being an apprentice.

Later Vincent went away to study Theology. His goal in life was to be a chaplain for a rich patron. This was another peculiar practice. Wealthy people had private chaplains.

St. Vincents life was changed when he was called to the bedside of a dying man. St. Vincent was so struck by the poverty he saw at that moment that he knew he could not live a life of leisure when others were deprived of food, clothing and shelter.

He began to start charitable institutions and orders. He began a men’s order, and he started the Daughters of Charity. The orders he started are still in existence. He also inspired many lay people to serve the poor. A man named Federic Ozanam began the St. Vincent DePaul Societies that exists in many parishes today.

St. Vincent DePaul was a very practical man. One of the little-known facts about him was that he was an avid gardener. He would take care of the gardens in several of the institutions he founded. When asked how he had time for this St. Vincent said, “You can’t appreciate the poor without appreciating the soil that provides their food.

Reflection Questions:

1.    Do I know someone who had a hard shell but has a heart full of charity? Who is it?

2.   Do I have a soft spot in my heart for the poor? Why or why not?

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Dear Parishioners,

          I make this announcement every few weeks. We need your help to get information about the sick in our parish. Hospitals and nursing homes do not call us to let us know when we have parishioners who are not feeling well. Fr. Matthew and I would like to anoint those who need to be anointed but we need information. Please call Melissa when you know of someone who is sick.

          We will be having a Mass where we anoint the sick soon. Please watch the bulletin for details. This will happen in October. 

          May Our Lady of Peace pray for us,

          Fr. Mark

P.S. I will not be posting daily reflections next week because I will be out of town much of the week.