The Virtue of the Perfect: Patience in the Life, Writings, and Conferences of St. Vincent de Paul
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35312/p9xpxg88Keywords:
Virtue of the perfect, Vincent de Paul, Patience, Service of the PoorAbstract
In his article, "The Virtue of the Perfect: Patience in the Life, Writings, and Conferences of St. Vincent de Paul," Robert Maloney, C.M., explores St. Vincent's personal struggle with patience, which he termed the "virtue of the perfect." Maloney examines Vincent's teachings on patience, highlighting his frequent self-admitted shortcomings and his emphasis on Christ's patience as a model. The article delves into Vincent's application of patience across various contexts, including self-reflection, community living, service to the poor, and enduring suffering. Maloney also discusses Vincent's balance between trusting in Divine Providence and taking prompt action when necessary. The study concludes by underscoring the enduring relevance of patience in contemporary times, drawing connections to modern spiritual practices and the teachings of Pope Francis.
References
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Maloney, Robert, C.M. 2019. Mystic of Charity (St. Louis, MO, 2019), chapter 2, “As a Baby Sucks Milk from its Mothers Breast: the Scriptures in the Spirituality of Vincent de Paul,” p. 33-49.
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Shakespeare, William. Othello, II, iii, 376-379.
Udovic, Edward, C.M. “St. Vincent’s Reading List,” a series of 87 titles, which can be found at: https://news.library.depaul.press/full-text/category/st-vincents-reading-list/
__________.1912. Positio II, Instructions to the Seminary Sisters, document 130a, p. 1161.
__________. 2024. Interview with Pedro Chia, S.J., the director of the Jesuit Communication Office of the Chinese Province, released on Aug. 9, 2024.
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