Spirituality and Theology for The Vincentian Family Part I Richard Benson, C.M.

Vincentian Spirituality and Theology

Vincentian Spirituality Is there such a thing as a specifically “Vincentian” spirituality? –Take 15 minutes and describe the unique characteristics of Vincentian spirituality.

Four Themes in the Spirituality of St. John Gabriel Perboyre Devotion to Providence Love for the Mission Love for the Community Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Vincent and Louise Persons of: –Faith incarnate –Prayer –Action –Tradition –The Church –WHAT OTHER IDENTIFIERS CAN WE USE TO CHARACTERIZE THEIR CHARISM?

The Vincentian Vision Vincentian Christ: –Brings good news to the poor Vincentian Anthropology –Imago Dei Vincentian Ecclesiology –The People of God on pilgrimage Vincentian Morality –“Love covers a multitude of sins” 1 Pt 4: 8

What is Evangelization? Take 15 minutes and describe “Evangelization.”

Evangelization Evangelizare: To bring the Good News –Jesus Christ has a Mission –The Mission of Christ has a Church, the Church does not have a mission.

Two Essential Elements of Authentic Vincentian Faith Gaudium –JOY Spes –HOPE

Authentic Vincentians Are marked with: –Hope and Joy

Jesus’ Mandate Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and Lo, I am with you always, until the close of the age.” Mt 28: 19-20

Vatican II Having been divinely sent to the nations that she might be ‘the universal sacrament of salvation,’ the Church, in obedience to the command of her founder and because it is demanded by her own essential universality, strives to preach the Gospel to all.” Ad Gentes, 1

Purpose of the Church’s Mission The ultimate purpose of evangelization is none other than to make all people share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of love. –John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio, 23

Motivation for Evangelization It is from God’s love for all people that the Church in every age receives both the obligation and the vigor of her missionary dynamism, “for the love of Christ urges us on.” –Catechism of the Catholic Church, 851

Evangelization through Time “This mission continues and, in the course of history, unfolds the mission of Christ, who was sent to evangelize the poor; so the Church, urged on by the Spirit of Christ, must walk the road Christ himself walked, a way of poverty and obedience, of service and self-sacrifice even to death, a death from which he emerged victorious by his resurrection.” Ad Gentes, 5

Vincentian Evangelization To bring the Good News to the Poor!

Vincentian Spirituality Part II

New Evangelization? “Today more than ever the Word of God will be unable to be proclaimed and heard unless it is accompanied by the witness of the power of the Holy Spirit, working within the action of Christians in the service of their brothers and sisters, at the points in which their existence and their future are at stake.” Paul VI, Octogesima Adveniens, 51

The term “the new Evangelization” Coined by Paul VI, 1975: Evangelii Nuntiandi: –A renewed emphasis and enthusiasm in preaching the gospel to non-Christians –A new response to the new challenges to the Church’s mission created by contemporary culture –E.G. New Responses to New Questions

The New Evangelization and John Paul II Called for “a new evangelization that would be new in ardor, new in methods, and new in expression.” Ecclesia in America, 6, 66 Under JP II, “evangelization” moves from “ad gentes” (classical evangelization) to “completing the mission of Christ”

Classical Evangelization Making converts Baptizing non-believers Teach the catechism Learn “about” Jesus Instruction about “doctrines” and “devotions” “Baptism” completes the goal of evangelization

The New Evangelization “Not a matter of merely passing on doctrine, but rather of a personal and profound meeting with the savior.” JP II, 1991 One cannot be an Evangelizer without a continuing encounter with Christ. RBcm, 2007

8 Characteristics of the New Evangelization 1. Participates in completing the mission of Christ. 2. Our own deeper conversion 3. Focus on those who are marginal members of the Church. 4. Focus on those who have left the Church 5. Re-evangelization of “Christian” cultures. 6. New methods, e.g. witness, new technology 7. Focus on the laity, evangelization is the mission of every baptized Christian. 8. Parallel to but distinct from “classical” evangelization.

Pope John Paul II: The need for a new evangelization helps the Church to understand that today more than ever the Church’s social message will gain credibility more immediately from the witness of action than as a result of its internal logic and consistency,” Centesimus Annus, 57

How is “new evangelization” new? New –Encounter with Christ –Relational –Begins with self –Is Church centered Old –Encounter with the Catechism –Rule centered –Begins with others –Targets unbaptized

The New Evangelization and the Vincentian Family Spend 15 minutes to develop one strategy for New Evangelization and the Vincentian Family.