Prosper the Work of Our Hands

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul

 

~~~ Ecclesiastes 1: 2-11 ~~~ Psalm 90 ~~~ Luke 9:7-9 ~~~

Vincent de Paul is best known for his ministry to the poor.

He traveled to the countryside giving missions to the poor, that is the slaves.

Vincent himself had been subjected to the bonds of slavery at one time himself.

 

Today many parishes serve the needy through their St. Vincent de Paul Society.

He was renowned for his compassion, humility, and generosity.

 

"...What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun."

 

Nothing is new under the sun...we still have those less fortunate among us today.

The poor have been and always will be a part of our society.

Vincent left his example of care for the poor.

He did not view them as less.

He did not view them as mere objects to be tossed aside and ignored.

Instead he reached out to them, he recognized that they were also

created in the image and likeness of God.

He understood that we are called to love the lowly.

 

The lowly are not to be forgotten hidden away from our eyes.

 

Psalm 90 makes it very clear that no matter who we are we will return to dust.

Rich or poor in the end does not matter.

God alone sees our true value.

 

Teach us Lord to number our days as we may grow in wisdom.

 

"...Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!"

 

We ask God to bless those who minister to the poor.

We ask God to provide abundance for those in need.

We ask God's guidance in helping us to give freely

without prejudice to those in need.

 

We thank God for giving us our daily bread.

We thank God for his providential care of the needy,

but also for our own care.

 

 

Sometimes those most in need of our compassion

do not fit our image of 'poor'.

 

We intercede today for those who are...

physically poor...

emotionally poor...

and spiritually poor.

We especially pray for the forgotten ones who have no one

ministering to their needs.

 

Fill the hearts of the poor with joy and gladness

as we minister to them.

Allow them to see Christ through those who serve them.

 

"...Prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!"

 

St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us.