Because We Are Asked
By Mike Syslo, National Associate Executive Director
I receive inspiration from a lot of different sources. Most recently, I have been reading daily a portion from the book “Imitation of Mary” by Alexander de Rouville. (This book is similar in format to “Imitation of Christ” by Thomas A Kempis.) Within the various chapters, de Rouville presents us with reflections related to Our Blessed Mother’s life and her dual role of bringing Jesus to us and bringing us to Jesus. Some of the segments are simple reflections and some are words from Mary for us to ponder and act on. In Book 1, Chapter 21, de Rouville wrote the following words from Mary to the reader:
Do not be satisfied with sentiments; let your love take concrete form. Many who are afflicted need the comfort of your words; many who are unhappy need the help of your generous gifts. God has allowed many people to be unhappy in this world so that they might achieve holiness through their suffering and you through your charity. Be ready to give all the help you can. Delay always means the loss of some of love’s merit. Let your love be generous and extend as far as possible. To limit the service you offer your neighbor is to evade rather than carry out the duties of love. When you yourself cannot help your neighbor, then try to bring others to help him, or at least invoke the Lord’s providential care over him. See in your neighbor not a mere man but God Himself. Then, no matter who asks your help, you will refuse him nothing, because you do not want to refuse it to the Lord. If you do good to men because they deserve it and are good men, you will do it but rarely. My child, prefer those works of love which are costly and be charitable at the expense of your self-love.
We are called into this ministry by our Lord. He asked us to love one another to the best of our ability in this ministry. And, we responded “yes” to His call. Here, our Lord’s Mother is offering us guidance on how to fulfill the service we are called to. Her words are simple, yet the meaning is great. If we simply followed her advice, we would be on our way to joining her with her Son.
Our Lady’s words reflect much of what the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been promoting since its foundation. We must do more than talk, we must take action. We can provide comfort with our words and are asked to be generous with our gifts. Those we serve will achieve holiness through their suffering and we through our charity. Don’t limit the service you offer. If you don’t have everything necessary to help, seek others to help as well. Help all, not just those who “deserve it.” Prefer the work that challenges your love. It’s not always easy to love those around us, but that is exactly what we are asked to do. Remember, it is Jesus who told us that as we love others, we love Him.