Feast of ST. Vincent de Paul in Kyiv

“If we ask Our Lord, ‘What did you come to do on earth?’ he answers, ‘To assist the poor.’ ‘Anything else?’ ‘To assist the poor.’ … Let us ask God to give the Company this spirit, this heart, this heart that causes us to go everywhere, this heart of the Son of God, the heart of Our Lord, the heart of Our Lord, the heart of Our Lord, that disposes us to go as He went … He sends us, like the apostles, to bring fire everywhere, … to bring this divine fire, this fire of love …» (St Vincent)

Fathers Missionaries of St. Vincent de Paul, Sisters of Mary of the Miraculous Medal, fathers and sisters of other congregations, volunteers of Vincentian Family and guests gathered September 27 in the house “God’s gift” in Kyiv to celebrate together the Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul.

The celebration began with the worship of the Most Holy Eucharist at the Chapel of Beatitudes, Holy Rosary prayer and honoring the relics of St. Vincent. The festive liturgy was led by Father Andriy Rak OMI.

In his homily Father Andriy simply presented the saint’s life and compared it to our lives. He emphasized that if we cooperate with God’s grace as St. Vincent did, we will be happy here in this world and become saints in joy and happiness in the future life in God. He encouraged us to continue the mission of Saint Vincent de Paul and to carry the good news of God’s love to the poor. Vincent saw love of Christ and love of the poor as inseparable. He urged his followers not just to act but also to pray, and not just to pray but also to act.

Saint Vincent was and remains “the Mystic of Charity”. Here are some thoughts on St. Vincent from historian and researcher of his works Father Hugh O’Donnell: “We all know Vincent was a man of action, so we may be surprised to hear him also referred to as a mystic. But in fact it was his mystical experience of the Trinity and in particular the Incarnation that was the font of all his actions in favor of poor people. Henri Brémond, the distinguished historian of French spirituality, was the first to bring it to our attention. He said, “…it is (Vincent’s) mysticism which gave us the greatest of the men of action.” André Dodin and José María Ibañez later called Vincent a “mystic of action” and Giuseppe Toscani, CM, united mysticism and action and came to the heart of the matter in calling him “a mystic of Charity.” Vincent lived in a century of mystics, but he stood out as the Mystic of Charity”. Vincent lived in a century of mystics, but he stood out as the Mystic of Charity. Being a mystic implies experience, the experience of Mystery. For Vincent it meant a deep experience of the Mystery of God’s Love. The Mysteries of the Trinity and the Incarnation were at the heart of St.Vincent’s life. The experience of the Trinity’s inclusive love of the world and the Incarnate Word’s unconditional embrace of every human person shaped, conditioned, and fired his love of the world and everyone in it, in particular, sisters and brothers in need. He looked upon the world with the eyes of Abba and Jesus and embraced everyone with the unconditional love, warmth and energy of the Holy Spirit. Vincent’s mysticism was the source of his apostolic action”.

Father Andriy reminded that each of the participants in this house serves somehow to those in need in everyday life following the example of St. Vincent, serves with the heart burning with divine love, helps, gives warmth and joy to those who need it, prays for the poor, lonely, homeless, and orphans. He congratulated St. Vincent de Paul missionaries, Sisters of Mary of the Miraculous Medal, volunteers, and all of Vincentian Family on the occasion of the feast. Preacher thanked and praised the volunteers who help in various ways fathers and sisters, and thus actions of charity initiated by St. Vincent. Every action is important. If we help together we are stronger. God gives his blessing when we are united for the common good.

On the eve of the feast Vincentian Family communities across Ukraine held a charity action “Vincentian gingerbread” during which collected donations to support people in need (those who are hungry, sick, poor, and lonely).

There was also another celebration on this day – sister Josefa Sterle MS, who all her life dedicated to serving the needy following the example of St. Vincent, celebrated the 25th anniversary of her eternal vows; she was warmly congratulated on this occasion.

After the Mass fathers missionaries and sisters of Mary organized a festive buffet. At the table guests could communicate with each other and share the joy of celebrating the fest of the great saint.

27/09/2016