The Poor

Yesterday was the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, priest. Here is some of his advice:

" If a needy person requires medicine or other help during prayer time, do whatever has to be done with peace of mind. Offer the deed to God as your prayer. Do not become upset or feel guilty because you interrupted your prayer to serve the poor. God is not neglected if you leave him for such service. One of God's works is merely interrupted so that another can be carried out. So when you leave prayer to serve some poor person, remember that this very service is performed for God."  1

What strikes me most is the line, "do whatever has to be done with peace of mind." And so as charity beckons us we are to move with sweetness not bitterness, positivity not negativity, flexibility not rigidity, gentleness not harshness, trust not fear, faith not doubt.

I was told by a wise person recently that this saint is very powerful in obtaining an answer to our prayers. He was a true servant of the poor. Let us ask for his intercession:

Dear St. Vincent de Paul, you learned to walk the higher road, and understood the miseries of earthly creatures like ourselves. We pray for the grace to move in charity and in the power of the Spirit. Help us to overcome all religious spirits and to possess a truly spiritual disposition. We desire the peace of mind of which you speak so when the poor need us, whether it be our children, spouses, friends or other loved ones, obtain for us we beg thee, the grace to respond to their need for help, with peace of mind and heart, offering all for the greater glory of God. We thank thee. Amen.

1. Excerpt from the writings of St. Vincent de Paul (Epist. 2546)