The Charism of Vincentian Congregation' In the Light of Jesus' Altruistic Ministry (Luke 4:16-30)
Date
2004
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
In the 17`h century, France witnessed to the great saint of the poor, who is said to
'have done the works of six saints in his life', just as the 20th century found itself with
the preferential option for the poor in the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The seed he
planted in caring for the poor centuries ago still grows in the 3rd millennium through the
works of Vincentians and other Vincentian Institutions that came up in the course of the
time. Vincent de Paul's vision of Christ was that he is a Missionary Christ, who
empties himself of his condition as a Son of God in order to free his people form
bondage, both corporeal and spiritual. This Christ draws others together, male and
female, rich and poor and makes them share his mission. He saw this fullness of
Christ's mission in the Lucan narrative 4:16-30, which is also entitled as the 'gospel in
miniature' because it foreshadows both the ministry and the fate of Jesus through out
the Gospel. Finally he took the words of Jesus as the motto of his life and of the
Congregation of the mission he founded.
A host of questions may come to one's mind while reflecting on the opening
words of Jesus in Galilee and its relation to the charism and mission of St. Vincent. On the one hand, what does Jesus mean while quoting the Isaiah text? Was Jesus aware of
what he read in the synagogue? How far the Scripture passage from Isaiah was fulfilled
in the life and ministry of Jesus? What was the primary mission of Jesus in proclaiming
the Kingdom of God? On the other hand, why did St. Vincent choose the words of
Jesus as his motto? What prompted him to do so? How far this charism is fulfilled
through the lives and ministries of the Vincentians all around the world, especially the
members of the Vincentian Congregation after its 100 years of existence?
After spending 11 years in the Congregation, first as an aspirant, then as a
temporarily professed member, as a perpetually professed member and now as a
deacon, I thought it is good and proper to know the charism in its deeper reality. Each
congregation has its own charism and the prime duty of its members is to make the
charism thefts, not vice versa. Therefore, I felt the urgent need of going back to the
original sources and reflect on the Scripture passage that motivated St. Vincent, and to
keep it updated to all the Vincentians, especially to the Vincentian Congregation. This
work is my gift to the Congregation as it celebrates its Centenary this year.
Our task here is to depict the original Lucan meaning of the text and apply it to
the charism of the Vincentian Congregation i.e., evangelizare pauperibus misit me — he
has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. The study is divided into three
chapters. The first chapter analyzes the introductory questions with regard to the
episode (4:16-30). In it, I will discuss the many aspects that brought Jesus to proclaim
the statement from Isaiah, and also analyze the pertinent texts parallel to this periscope and compares them with the Lucan passage. The first chapter ends with a brief
discussion on the form and structure of this Lucan narrative.
The second chapter is dedicated to the detailed exegetical analysis of the our
periscope and most significantly the Isaiah verses (4:18-19). Such an analysis gives us
in depth the understanding of the Isaiah verse quoted by Jesus, and its theological
implication. This helps us to understand that in the Lucan theology of preaching the
Kingdom of God, Jesus was particularly interested in proclaiming it to the poor, but that
is not all. The means that Jesus used to bring this good news were release from debts,
release from sins and release from satanic powers. But the primary mission is the
preaching of the good news to the poor.
The third chapter is the climax of our study, where all these first two chapters
were heading to. It analyses the charism of the Vincentian Congregation in the light of
this Lucan passage. It is a study about the great saint of the 16th century in France, St.
Vincent de Paul and his works among the poor that inspired few Indian priests to begin
their own work among the South Indians, motivated by the charism of St. Vincent. The
core of the study lies in the findings and proposals about how can this charism, found in
Luke 4:18-19, be implemented in the different ministries of the Congregation in the 21st
century.
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Keywords
Charism, Vincentian Congregation, Light of Jesus, Altruistic Ministry, Luke 4:16-30