Vincentian Spirituality

TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

October 12, 2025

Gospel: (Luke 17:11-19)

As Jesus was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going, they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

Reflection:

Gratitude is an expression of discipleship and a sign of God’s reign. This gospel presents a foreign leper who asks for healing, obeys what is commanded, experiences healing, and then gives thanks to God. 

The faith that saves is the recognition that God acts in many ways on our behalf to bring us salvation. We are healed each time we come to Eucharist to give praise and thanks to God and in this act of worship we become more perfect members of the body of Christ. 

We are healed each time we put others ahead of ourselves and in these simple acts we strengthen our faith. We are healed each time we pause to “give thanks to God” for the many blessings of each day because by giving thanks to God we acknowledge that God has acted in Christ. 

By giving thanks we acknowledge our own indebtedness—we are poor and everything we are and are becoming is because God has raised us up. (Living Liturgy, p. 224)

Vincentian Meditation:

If we have a grateful heart, we will see everything as gifts of God. There is a beautiful prayer of St. Thomas More who, when he was rich and enjoyed much favor from King Henry VIII, always kept his heart detached from the things of life. 

The prayer goes:

“Thanks be to You, Lord Jesus Christ, for all that you have given me.

Thanks be to You, Lord Jesus Christ, for all that you have taken away from me.

Thanks be to You, Lord Jesus Christ, for all that You have left me.”

May God give us the grace to be grateful for everything He has given us and to show that gratitude by generosity to others and to those who are poor.

(McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.204)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts after a moment of silence)

What do you “give thanks to God” for?

Closing Prayer:

Thanks be to You, Lord Jesus Christ,

-for all that you have given me.

Thanks be to You, Lord Jesus Christ,

-for all that you have taken away from me.

Thanks be to You, Lord Jesus Christ,

-for all that You have left me.

Amen 

Opening Prayer for Society Meetings:

L:  In the Name of the Father, etc.

All:  Amen.

L:  Come, Holy Spirit, live within our lives.

All:  And strengthen us by Your Love.

L:  Send forth your spirit and new life will be created.

All:  And the whole face of the earth will be renewed.

L:  Our Father, etc.

All:  Give us this day our daily bread, etc.

L:  Let us reflect on the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, recalling His unity and presence among us: “Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Silence)

All:  Lord Jesus, deepen our Vincentian spirit of friendship during this meeting and make us responsive to the Christian calling to seek and find the forgotten, the suffering, or the deprived so that we may bring them your love. Help us to be generous with our time, our possessions, and ourselves in this mission of charity. Perfect in us your love and teach us to share more fully in the Eucharistic Sacrifice offered for all.

L:  Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 

All:  Have mercy on us.

L:  Immaculate Heart of Mary, 

All:  Pray for us.

L:  St. Vincent de Paul,  

All:  Pray for us.

L:  St. Louise de Marillac, 

All:  Pray for us.

L:  Blessed Frederic Ozanam, 

All:  Pray for us.

L:  Blessed Rosalie Rendu, 

All:  Pray for us.

L:  In the Name of the Father, etc.

All:  Amen.

Closing Prayer for Society Meetings: 

All:  Father, grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Eucharist may realize the depth of our needs, respond more spontaneously to the suffering of others, and come to love You more deeply by service to our neighbor.

Grant us also the wisdom and strength to persevere when disappointed or distressed. May we never claim that the fruitfulness of our apostolate springs from ourselves alone. United in prayer and action, may we become a visible sign of Christ and may we give witness to His boundless love, which reaches out to all and draws them to love one another in Him.

We thank You, Lord, for the many blessings which we receive from those whom we visit. Help us to love and respect them, to understand their deeper needs, and to share their burdens and joys as true friends in Christ.

L: That the Cause for the Canonization of Frederic Ozanam, who excelled in the virtue of Christian love, be advanced.

All: Lord, hear us.

L: That our departed friends and relatives, our Vincentian Brothers and Sisters, and those whom we have served, be welcomed into your Kingdom and joined in love.

All:  Lord, hear us.

L: In the Name of the Father, etc.

All:  Amen.