VINCENTIAN STUDIES COURSE

BOQUERON, CHIRIQUI, PANAMA

JOHN P. PRAGER, C.M. 1995

I. ON THE CHARISM OF THE FOUNDER

 1. The charism was the Spirit's impulse in a specific time and place. What was the historic, political, economic and religious situation in St. Vincent's time? How did these things affect the incarnation of the charism or the way in which it was first lived?

 2. What were the emphases and sensitivities which Vincent took from the Gospel?

 3. What aspects of the mystery of Christ did Vincent accentuate?

 4. Since Vincent's charism operated in specific circumstances, which needs did he respond to? Why didn't he choose other needs?

 5. What was the fundamental intention in founding the community? Did this intention develop over time?

 6. What was Vincent's fundamental vision which he shared with the first members of the community?

 7. How would you distinguish Vincent's personal charisms from the community charism?

 8. Can something of the charism outlast St. Vincent who first incarnated it?
 

II. ON VINCENTIAN SPIRITUALITY

 1. What were the spiritual influences on the founder?

 2. What personal experiences formed his life?

 3. Vincent considered certain attitudes and characteristics authentically spiritual. What were they? How are they expressed?

 4. Where do we find God according to St. Vincent?

 5. How did Vincent understand God, humanity and the world? How do these fundamental realities interrelate?

 6. What image (symbol) unifies Vincentian spirituality?

 7. What are the constant themes in Vincentian spirituality?

 8. Vincent used the spiritual masters and theologians of his time to understand and articulate his experience of Jesus present in the poor. Which theologians and spiritual masters can help us do that today?

 9. What means and practices did Vincent suggest for the development of our spirituality? Do these continue to have any value?
 

III. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE VINCENTIAN TRADITION

 1. Does the charism of the founder have something to say today?

 2. How have I experienced my vocation to the community? Has my understanding of this vocation changed?

 3. What were the key moments of recognizing my call to follow Jesus, the evangelizer of the poor?

 4. What have been the personal difficulties and resistances in accepting this call?

 5. When do I most feel like a Vincentian?

 6. What is the congregation's contribution to the Church and to the world? How do I participate?

 7. What is it that I share with Vincent and the other members of the C.M.?
 

IV. ON THE VOWS AND THE VIRTUES

 1. On a practical level does it mean anything that our vows are not religious vows?

 2. Our vows are means for living the mission. What has been my experience?

 3. In this country what are some of the positive and negative realities which affect the way we live the vows?

 4. In my experience what are some of the joys and difficulties in living the evangelical counsels?

 5. We live the vows as an expression of the charism. How does the charism color the way we live the evangelical
counsels?

 6. Do the evangelical counsels, as they are lived in the congregation, provide a profetic witness in our culture or offer a bond of solidarity with others?

 7. What do the characteristic virtues mean in the modern world?

 8. What is my experience of living the five virtues?
 

V. THE CONGREGATION OF THE MISSION TODAY

 1. Does this group respond to real needs?

 2. What changes have occurred in the congregation since St. Vincent's time? Have these changes helped or hindered?

 3. If I had the chance to re-found the community again today, how would I establish an evangelical presence
according to the spirit of St. Vincent?

 4. What aspect of the Gospel does the community best reflect?

 5. To whom do we give priority in the apostolate? To whom
should we give priority?

 6. Does the community say all that it could?

 7. Are individual and the community as a whole growing?

 8. Are St. Vincent's vision of faith and his gospel sensitivities present?

 9. How can we experience the charism personally?

 10. What do we hope to do together?

 11. What structures promote a common life and mission?
What structures impede these things?

 12. Who are my examples of the Vincentian charism?

 13. Which elements of St. Vincent's understanding of life
and ministry in the C.M. can be recovered today?

 14. How does my call or vocation coincide with St. Vincent's?

 15. What are the signs of hope in the C.M.?

 16. Why am I here?

 17. To which signs of the times should we respond?

 18. Which aspects of my life contradict the charism and the spirit of St. Vincent?

 19. Which aspects of the congregation's life contradict the spirit and the charism?

 20. What changes have to be made in me personally or in the C.M. as a whole to be more faithful to the following of Jesus, evangelizer of the poor?