Lord God Almighty, Father of the poor, you give us the grace to celebrate this year the 350th anniversary of the death of St. Vincent and St. Louise. We thank you for this immense grace. Through their intercession grant that we allow ourselves to be transformed more fully by the Spirit you gave them. May the Spirit of Charity so fill our hearts and minds that our love for our brothers and sisters, who are marginalized and rejected by society, be gentle, attentive, compassionate, pro-active and inventive unto infinity.
Make us rediscover the audacity of Vincent and Louise, the diligence and sweetness of an ever-renewed love of the poor that may help them change their lives in earnest.
Help us make our faith strong and humble in a world that seems so far away from you yet that thirsts so much for you. Make us become a sign of hope for many, as were Vincent and Louise, companions in life.
Grant that we do not back down in the face of difficulties but be ready to dirty our hands in favor of the poor, our masters. Help us learn from them to become your true sons and daughters, worthy heirs of the charism you have entrusted to Vincent and Louise for the good of the Church and of all humanity,
May this jubilee year be for our Vincentian Family a year of grace and conversion, and for those we love a year of many blessings. Amen.
One Comment on “Special Prayers – 350th”
The prayer is modern and very clear in its wording. I’m a Brother of Charity (originally a Belgian Congregation, founded in 1807 by Fr P.J. Triest. I’m now in my 66th year of religious vows. When I was younger it was the custom to read a quotation of St Vincent’s writings at one of the community meals. Alas, this and other useful community readings were abolished in line with a kind of minimalism that has spread like an oil slick. I pray every day to St Vincent as he is the patron saint of our Congregation, and a wonderful example of charity. br Hugo