VINCENTIAN STUDIES COURSE

BOQUERON, CHIRIQUI, PANA

JOHN P. PRAGER, C.M. 1995

 
3. THE CONSTITUTIONS: THE VINCENTIAN VOCATION

GOAL:Understand how the C.M. defines itself since l980.

READINGS FOR THE TEACHER:

Bastiaensen, A., "Somos una Comunidad Apostólica," CLAPVI 37 (l982), p. 389-402.

 Carballo, F., "Institución y Fisonomía del Paúl en la Actualidad," in San Vicente de Paúl: Pervivencia de un Fundador, (Salamanca: CEME, l972), p.

 Corera, J., "Un Paúl para Nuestro Tiempo," in Vicente de Paúl: Evangelizador de los Pobres, (Salamanca:CEME, l973).

 De la Puebla, T., "Vocación del Misionero Vicentino," CLAPVI 37 (l982), p. 376-388.

 Fernández, J., "El Perfíl Misionero del Vicenciano Hoy," Vincentiana 38 (l994), p.20-36.; also CLAPVI 84 (l994).

 Fernández, J., "La Secularidad de la C.M.," Anales 88 (l980), p. 246-259.

 --, "Sociedades de Vida Apostólica," Anales 93 (l985), p. 28-59.

 Ibáñez, J.M., "Opción Vicenciana por los Pobres," in Respuesta Vicenciana a las Nuevas Formas de Pobreza, (Salamanca: CEME, l988), p. 115-158.

 Incott, A., "La Vocación Vicentina:Consagración-Misión," CLAPVI 41 (l983), p. 424-438.

 Mezzadri, L., ""Apostolica Vivendi Forma en la C.M.", Anales 87 (l979), p. 211-232.

 Parres, C., "Una Cuestión de Identidad," Anales 87(l979),
p. 233ff.

 Pérez-Flores, M., "La Congregación de la Misión ejemplo de Sociedad de Vida Apostólica," Vincentiana 38 (l994), p. 234-245.

 --, "Ensayo de un Programa Audaz para Responder a las Nuevas Formas de Pobreza," in Respuesta Vicenciana, p. 197- 217.
Quevedo, A., "Ser Vicentino Hoy en América Latina," CLAPVI 39 (l983), p. 196-209.

 Rojas, G., "Nuestro Fin en la Optica de Puebla, CLAPVI 21 (l978), p. 244ff.

 Sylvestre, A., "Sobre el fin de la Compañía," Vincentiana 20 (l976), p. 191ff.

READINGS FOR THE NOVICES:

Constitutions, No. 1-9;

 Parres, C., "Societies of Apostolic Life:Canons 731- 746," in Handbook on Canons 573-746, (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, l985), p. 287-294.

OPTIONAL READINGS:

Cavanna, T., "St. Vincent's Signature in Our Revised Constitutions," Vincentiana 26 (l982), p. 111-134.

 The Objective of the Congregation of the Mission, (Document of the PreparatoryCommission for the l980 General Assembly).

 The State of the Congregation of the Mission: Its Secular Character, (Document of the Preparatory Commission for the l980 General Assembly).

 
  CASE STUDY

In St. Anthony's rectory the confreres get together informally around ten o'clock after the days work is done.

Mark, the youngest member of the house and something of
an idealist, asks: "What do you guys think about this new plan to review the works of the province?" Frank, a man of about fifty years, responds rather cynically: I think we're being inundated with paper. Besides, what difference does it make? All this talk about the poor, mobility. A Vincentian can do anything."

Joe, a contemporary of Frank and the superior, looks up from his paper and adds in his own quiet way: "I don't know what's happened to the community I joined. There used to be and esprit de corps. What made us united as Vincentians were
common practices like the other religious communities. That's what inspired all these good works." " I'll tell you what's happened," said Tom, the oldest member of the house at seventy. "We stopped giving parish missions. I came to the community to preach the gospel not to be a Daughter of Charity! St. Vincent told us to preach."

"Wait a minute!," interrupted Mark. "St. Vincent said we have to evangelize the poor. That's what the province is trying to evaluate in our works." Tom obviously annoyed at the interruption replied, "How can we evangelize without the preaching of missions? All you young guys talk about is justice, soup kitchens, politics. Where's the gospel?

Frank chimed in:" That's right, Mark. Didn't Jesus say there'll always be poor or something like that? When you think about it, everyone is poor:spiritually or educationally, if not economiclly." "What!!!," exclaimed Mark, getting a little hot under the collar. "I can't believe you guys! What do you think, Lou"

Lou had been quitely listening to the conversation."I was in the seminary with Frank and Joe. I understand what they're talking about. That's how we were trained. A Vincentian does whatever the bishops ask and lives like a monk at home. When I taught high school, went away to study and came back to teach theology I never thought much about these things. However, these last few years at St. Anthony's
has taught me a lot. It's made me think about what does it mean to be a Vincentian. I still have lots of questions. But, I find myself leaning towards Mark's position."
"It's time for bed", said Joe. "Let's talk about it tomorrow."
 
 

The following questions can be discussed:

1. What do you think about the different opinions expressed about the Vincentian vocation?

2. Which opinion comes closest to your own?

3. Why do you think there are so many different points of view about something that should be so central in our life?

4. After reading the Constitutions, how would you compare the opinions to paragraphs 1-9?

5. Joe seems to think we're just like religious. Does being a member of a society of apostolic life make any difference?

6 What do you think of Tom's view of evangelization?