FLAME OF CHARITY: A Reflection on the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul.
It is not enough to be moved with pity without doing something to removing the pity situation. Moved with pity for the poor, the flame of charity was seen in the French atmosphere (1617-1660) announcing vehemently by deeds of divine love, the message of the kingdom of God.
A war against the careless abandon of the poor spiritually began at Folleville a village in France in 1617. The need to lessen the gap between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat was expedient. A man allowed his hands to open wide when moved by sympathy for the down trodden.
For the past 400 years the flame of the charity of St. Vincent de Paul has saturated the world with the love of God. How beautiful is the heart and hand that brightens the eyes of the poor and decorates her face with smiles! St. Vincent de Paul, the name of a lived life which has made millions of people to understand the expression that “God is love!”
The flames of the fire of terrorism and war can only be quenched by the flame of charity. The flame of charity is the flame of sacrifice. The flame of charity is not seen where people are concerned about themselves alone. St. Vincent de Paul would have gone to the moon if the poor’s presence where to have been registered there.
As the Vincentian Family all over the world celebrates the 400th anniversary of the Vincentian Charism, may the flame of the charity of St. Vincent de Paul continue to be our vision.
Happy Feast day to all Vincentians!
Love.
Fr Augustine Abiagom, CM.
