Sayings of Saint Vincent de Paul, called “the Father of the Poor”
– Charity is above all rules, and everything must be directed toward it.
– God asks first for the heart, and then for the work.
– It is not enough to do good; we must do it well.
– We must not judge the poor by their outward appearance or by their mental gifts. But if you look at them in the light of faith, you will see in them the children of God, who himself chose to be poor. He came to bring good news to the poor: “He has sent me to preach good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18).
– We must understand this and imitate what Christ did, that is, take care of the poor, comfort them, help them and surround them with the care they need.
– Christ chose to be born poor; he took poor disciples, made himself the servant of the poor, and even shared in their condition, saying that whatever good or harm is done to the poor is done to him.
– God loves the poor, and he loves those who love the poor. When we love someone, we love all those bound to them by friendship or service. That is why we too hope, through the poor, to be God’s friends. When we visit them, let us do all we can to understand them and feel with them, so that we grasp the meaning of the Apostle Paul’s words: “I have become all things to all men” (1 Corinthians 9:22).
– We must do all we can to feel with our neighbour, to share his worries and hardships. Service of the poor must be preferred to everything, and it must be done without delay or postponement. Let us serve the poor with renewed hearts and feelings, and let us seek out the abandoned and the poorest: they are our masters, our healing and God’s gift to us.
May his prayers be with us.
Prepared by Rita of the Sawt el Rab team
