Charism in Motion: 400 Years of Grace, Mission, and Renewal - Toward a Vincentian Future
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35312/b3nany40Keywords:
Vincentin Charism, Mission, Evangelization, Changing WorldAbstract
As the Congregation of the Mission celebrates its 400th Jubilee, this article reflects on the enduring vitality of the Vincentian charism through Articles C.1 and C.2 of its Constitutions. These foundational texts articulate a missionary identity rooted in following Christ, the Evangelizer of the Poor, through holiness of life, evangelization—especially of the most abandoned—and the formation of clergy and laity. Integrating biblical foundations, Vincentian tradition, and contemporary magisterial teachings, the study presents the charism as dynamic rather than static: faithful to its origins yet responsive to the signs of the times. Particular attention is given to “putting on the spirit of Christ” as an incarnational holiness formed in the Heart of Christ, and to evangelizing the poor as a sacramental encounter with Christ present in wounded humanity. The article argues that Vincentian mission today demands renewed interior conversion, prophetic mercy, and missionary creativity. In this Jubilee context, the charism emerges not as a relic of the past, but as a living fire guiding the Church toward hope, justice, and compassionate service in a wounded world.
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