Formation of the Heart

Formation of the Heart: Deepening Our Vincentian Call

“It is our vocation to set people’s hearts ablaze, to do what the Son of God did… to bring the fire of His love into the hearts of men.” – St. Vincent de Paul

At St. Vincent de Paul, our mission is not simply something we do – it is something we live. That is why ongoing Vincentian formation is so essential. Formation is the lifelong process of allowing God to shape our hearts, minds, and actions so that we serve not only with our hands, but with compassion rooted in faith.

For Vincentians, formation means continually learning to see Christ in those we serve – and allowing that encounter to transform us. Blessed Frédéric Ozanam understood that true charity is not simply about material assistance, but about building relationships marked by dignity, respect, and love. To serve in this way, our actions must be nourished by prayer, study, reflection, and fellowship.  But in addition to charity, we are called to seek justice.  This requires us to seek understanding and expertise on the conditions and circumstances that cause the needs of our neighbors.

Formation asks something of us:

• To grow spiritually, by rooting our service in prayer, Scripture, and the Sacraments.
• To grow intellectually, by studying the Rule and learning about Catholic Social Teaching.
• To grow in knowledge, by deepening our understanding of poverty, its causes and programs and services that can address these needs.
• To grow communally, by sharing faith and wisdom with fellow Vincentians, and by mentoring and accompanying new members.
• To grow personally, by examining our own motivations and allowing God to shape us into more humble, compassionate disciples.

This is the invitation and the challenge: not to remain the same, but to allow God to continually form us into true Vincentian servants. Every act of service is both an offering to God and an opportunity for Him to transform our hearts.

Formation, then, is not just an event or a retreat – it is a way of life. It is saying “yes” to being molded by God, again and again, so that our mission remains fresh, joyful, and faithful.

The call to action is clear: As Vincentians, we are asked to embrace ongoing formation with intentionality. Attend formation opportunities. Read and reflect. Pray before and after serving. Share your journey with others. Mentor those who come after you. Seek opportunities for learning.  In short – commit not only to doing the work of Vincentian charity, but to becoming the people God is calling us to be.

The more our hearts are formed by Christ’s love, the more that love will flow through us to those we serve – and the more we will discover that in serving, we too are being transformed.