On Wednesday, November 11th, the Holy Father will bless the sacred image of the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in the Vatican in the presence of the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, Father Tomaẑ Mavriĉ, CM and a small delegation of persons responsible for organizing Mary’s pilgrimage to the various communities throughout Italy on the occasion of the 190th anniversary of the apparitions to Saint Catherine Labouré.
In the midst of the difficult situation in which the world finds itself as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the midst of a society marked by conflict and tension on every continent, the spiritual children of Saint Vincent de Paul begin, with this Marian pilgrimage, a journey to proclaim the merciful love of God.
On the night of July 18-19, 1830, the Blessed Mother appeared for the first time to Catherine Labouré, a young Daughter of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. This was a rather lengthy encounter in which the Blessed Mother stated: The times are very evil. Misfortunes afflict France and the entire world will experience misfortunes of every sort … But come to the foot of this altar, there abundant graces will be spread over all those who ask for them with confidence and fervor. They will be given to the great and the small. On November 28, 1830, the Blessed Mother appeared again to Catherine Labouré, holding in her hands a small globe (representing humankind). Catherine contemplated her beauty and accepted the mission to make a medal: the persons who wear this medal will receive great graces.
Pilgrimage with Mary on the 190th anniversary of the apparitions of the blessed mother to saint Catherine Laboure
Today, the world is deeply troubled. Poverty is spreading and has become more accentuated as a result of the pandemic. On November 15th we will celebrate the Fourth World Day of the poor, with the theme, stretch forth your hand to the poor. In his message for that day, Pope Francis wrote: The present experience has challenged many of our assumptions. We feel poorer and less self-sufficient because we have come to sense our limitations and the restriction of our freedom. The loss of employment, and of opportunities to be close to our loved ones and our regular acquaintances, suddenly opened our eyes to horizons that we had long since taken for granted. Our spiritual and material resources were called into question and we found ourselves experiencing fear. In the silence of our homes, we rediscovered the importance of simplicity and of keeping our eyes fixed on the essentials. We came to realize how much we need a new sense of fraternity, for mutual help and esteem
The members of the worldwide Vincentian Family, faithful to the Word of God, inspired by the charism which calls them to serve God in the person of the poor and encouraged by this initiative of the Blessed Mother to go on pilgrimage, want to remind us that the Blessed Mother continues to invite men and women to approach the foot of the altar.
In his message on the occasion of the Missionary Vocations Festival, the Superior General, Father Mavriĉ, recalled the following words of Saint Vincent which the Congregation of the Mission has recently reflected upon: our vocation is to go not to one parish, not just to one diocese, but all over the world (CCD:XII:215). He then went one to say: I hope that these words of Saint Vincent help us to revitalize our foundational vocation as missionaries and to do this from the perspective of our universality and internationality.
Today, one hundred ninety years later, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal continues to watch over humankind and engages in this pilgrimage in order to visit and meet with the ecclesial communities throughout Italy, thus fulfilling the promise of love that is contained in her message: I will always be with you, trust, do not be discouraged.
Our Lady will begin this pilgrimage on Tuesday, December 1 and will continue through November 22, 2021, with the following schedule:
12/01/2020 – 01/01/2021: Lacio, Marche, Umbría
01/02/2021 – 02/03/2021: Campania
02/04/2021 – 02/28/2021: Calabria
03/01-2021 – 03/31/2021: Sicilia
04/01/2021 – 04/30/2021: Apulia, Basilicata and Bbruzzo
05/01/2021 – 05/31/2021: Toscana and Liguria
06/01/2021 – 06/30/2120: Piamonte and Lombardia
09/12/2021 – 10/13/2021; Emilia Romagana and Treveto
10/19/2021 – 11/22/2021: Cerdeña
Through means of this Missionary and Marian initiative, the coordinating group of missionaries, members of the Congregation of the Mission, under the leadership of Father Valerio Di Trapani, are promoting the spread of evangelization material: a pocketbook on Saint Catherine Labouré (Vincentian Liturgical Center), a pocketbook on the Miraculous Medal (Vincentian Liturgical Center), the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Novena Prayers (Vincentian Liturgical Center), the liturgy for receiving the image of Our Lady, pamphlets about the Vincentian Family in Italy, banners about the event, and articles on the Miraculous Medal.
The various branches of the Vincentian Family, parishes and other ecclesial institutions are invited to participate in this Marian pilgrimage that will last for three days (fulfilling all health requirements that have been established as a result of COVID-19). Events will include: celebration on receiving the image, eucharistic celebration, celebration of Mercy, Marian-Vincentian catechesis, meeting with children, youth and adults, prayer for vocations, Marian cenacles in the homes of the poor and the infirm (nursing homes and drop-in centers), financial initiatives to support the Vincentian missionary works.
Among the one hundred signatures that call the world to solidarity and action to protect the homeless from the spread of COVID -19, we must mention the International Vincentian Family. This list, intended to continue to grow with the signatures of more institutions and individuals, can be viewed at https://covid19-protecting-screening-rehousing.com/ and includes the signatures of many beneficent associations and organizations that are active in different parts of the world.
The premise of this appeal is based on the vulnerability of the most fragile members of society at this complex moment, individuals such as those who are homeless, refugees, and those who already live in precarious conditions. The petition of these associations arose from this stated reality and it is for that reason that they request that the people included in the aforementioned categories be given priority in the COVID-19 screening test process. These men and women are at tangible risk of becoming infected with the virus, and their precarious living situation is an aggravating risk factor. Neglecting these individuals can only worsen the overall epidemiological situation. Therefore, urgent priority measures must be taken to stop the spread of COVID-19, including the protection of the homeless.
In order to protect the homeless and vulnerable individuals in general, it is essential: to promote access to safe and appropriately hygienic housing that allows isolation … thus controlling the possible transmission of the virus (in the present common housing conditions, such quarantine is impossible); to guarantee basic needs including food and access to health care; to provide necessary equipment for the reduction of risk (masks and gowns); since so many services and shelters are closed, there is a need to provide these vulnerable individuals with access to counseling and assistance; in light of the lack of safe alternatives to public space, there is a need to protect the homeless from punitive policy measures.
A proactive and systematic research policy is also needed. For obvious public health reasons, there is an urgent need to conduct Covid-19 tests on homeless people and refugees and to separate those who test positive and thus control the spread of the virus. At the same time there a need to test volunteers and medical personnel who are in daily contact with these vulnerable groups of people as well as to keep people sheltered. In light of the economic impact of the crisis, it is necessary to establish structural solutions for access to housing, which has become, more than ever, a public health imperative.
Last week, a delegation of the
Vincentian Family participated in the 58th Session of the United
Nations Commission for Social Development (New York). There was much
satisfaction with this event that began in 2017 at the time of the 400th
anniversary of the birth of the Vincentian charism. It was during that
celebration that a decision was made to join together in the worldwide struggle
against homelessness.
Following in the footsteps their
founder, Saint Vincent de Paul, the Vincentian Family has identified
homelessness as a very serious social “scourge”. Thus, there
is am urgent pressing need to provide people not only with a roof and a floor,
but to provide people with a home, a place where they can raise a family in a
safe and secure environment, a place of peace and a place of belonging.
With this objective, the
Vincentian Family has committed itself to become part of a working group on
homeless and joined together with forty-one other organizations to bring this
matter to the attention of the United Nations.
Throughout its long history of 75 years, rarely has there been any mention of “Homelessness”. The lack of a clear definition of the problem has led the member states and international organizations to ignore one the fundamental rights of humanity, the right to housing. Therefore, the working group to end homelessness has advocated in a tireless manner to include this theme on the agenda of the UN. The result of this process is seen in the fact that the 58th Session of this Commission has now placed homelessness on the agenda of the UN.
This is a revolutionary achievement that, without a doubt, should be viewed as a milestone in this journey that still needs much work and commitment. The fundamental aspect is that each country must analyze this problem, define it and quantify it so that an appropriate policy can be created to address the issue of homelessness within a country. In the last two years, the Working Group has developed a draft resolution for the Member States and has also established partnerships with the missions of the Member States at the United Nations. These two combined efforts resulted in a resolution of the United Nations that gave the following theme to this current year:
“accessible housing systems and social protection systems for all, to
address homelessness.”
The publication of a document shared by all and signed by all is certainly not the immediate solution to the problem of homelessness, but it is at least one way to start addressing this issue in a global manner.
It should be noted that during
this session of the Commission more than sixty parallel events were organized,
closely followed by NGOs from around the world. All of this allowed the
participants to dialogue, deepen their understanding of the issues, get to know
each other and, above all, understand that the path that has been initiated, is
now a path shared by many and that this Commission for Social Development has
initiated a worldwide movement.
Pope Francis, in the meeting with journalists a few days after his election, about the choice of his name, said “How I would like a church that is poor and for the poor!”. With this spirit, “to walk towards a Church poor and for the poor”, in full harmony with the Vincentian Charism – of which the Worldwide Vincentian Family celebrated the 400th anniversary of its foundation –, the Leonean Apostolic College in Rome organizes “The Leonean Thursday “, A series of meetings, from January to May, open to all, promoted by the Vincentian Family.
On 11 January the cycle of meetings began with the biblical scholar, Prof. Rosanna Virgili, who spoke on the sentence taken from the First Letter of St. John the Apostle: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 Jn 3:18).
Five years ago, the leaders of the United Nations’ humanitarian organizations made an urgent appeal to all those who could put an end to the conflict in Syria and asked them to enact all possible efforts to save the Syrian people. “Enough is enough,” they said, of so much suffering and bloodshed. That was five years ago. Today, the bloodshed continues. And the suffering is further aggravated by the possible international escalation of armed conflict.
From its office at the United Nations, the Vincentian International Network for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (VIN-JPIC) joins in deep solidarity with the call that Pope Francis sent out today: “While I continue to pray unceasingly for peace, and invite all people of good will to do the same, I renew my appeal to all those with political responsibilities to ensure that justice and peace prevail … nothing can justify the instruments of extermination against the population … I ask that policy makers and the military choose the other path, that of negotiation, the only one that can lead to peace and not to death and destruction.”
Pope Francis, in the meeting with journalists a few days after his election, about the choice of his name, said “How I would like a church that is poor and for the poor!”. With this spirit, “to walk towards a Church poor and for the poor”, in full harmony with the Vincentian Charism – of which the Worldwide Vincentian Family celebrated the 400th anniversary of its foundation –, the Leonean Apostolic College in Rome organizes “The Leonean Thursday “, A series of meetings, from January to May, open to all, promoted by the Vincentian Family.
On 11 January the cycle of meetings began with the biblical scholar, Prof. Rosanna Virgili, who spoke on the sentence taken from the First Letter of St. John the Apostle: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 Jn 3:18).
In February, at the beginning of Lent, the meeting had as its theme “The vocation to follow poor Jesus” and was held by bishop Msgr. Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Institute John Paul II.
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