Welcome by the Visitor and Visitatrix

After the words of welcome by Fr. Juan de la Rosa (Visitor of the Province of Salamanca) and the President of the VMY in Spain (Maria Molina), Sister Eugenia Gonzalex (Visitatrix of the Porvince of Madrid - Saint Vincent), addressed the delegates with the following words:

Evangelized, we evangelize

YOU have chosen a motto that has two impersonal forms of the verb: a participle and an infinitive (Translator’s note: that is true of the Spanish version, but in the official English translation we have a past participle and the present tense [first personal plural]). Grammar can be very expressive and suggestive.

We have a participle that acts as an adjective and expresses a quality: EVANGELIZED. We have an infinitive that expresses an action: TO EVANGELIZE (Translator’s note: the infinitive has been translated in the present tense, WE EVANGELIZE).

In a world that prefers superficial adjectives that highlight appearances and well-being, you have chosen an adjective that points the way to true happiness. In a world that is attracted by actions that emphasize comfort and leisure, you have chosen an action than can transform society.

Well done! You have been able to find in the dictionary the most passionate word, one that implies great risk, a word that makes it worthwhile to lay down one’s life. The gospel of John tells us: the Word became flesh! Hopefully the “word” (in small letters), which you have chosen, becomes incarnated in you and hopefully the “Word” (in capital letters), will dwell in your heart.

Those who are evangelized are those who read and love the gospel, those who have focused their eyes on Jesus, who live their life in harmony with Jesus and who have accepted and live in accord with Jesus’ lifestyle. Indeed, by placing the gospel at the center of our communities we learn to live as Jesus lived.

As members of the Vincentian Marian Youth Association you are called to embrace the gospel from the perspective of your identity, that is, as young men and women, as imitators of Mary and followers of Saint Vincent.

• Evangelized like the young man in the gospel: As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone” (Mark 10:17-18).

• The young man was restless and sought to find Jesus, therefore, the young man approached Jesus by running toward him. He sought in Jesus someone who would provide him with light to guide his personal life. Jesus reminded him that God alone is good and therefore the young man had to sustain his life by abiding in God’s goodness. In this way Jesus guided the life of young man but from a new and different perspective.

• Evangelized as the young man supposes that we go out to meet Jesus, the Teacher … that we go out in order to find meaning in life.

• Evangelized like Mary: … for nothing will be impossible for God. Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:37-38).

• Mary made it possible for God to become visible. Her openness was key. She allowed herself to be animated by the power of the Holy Spirit. She used the word “handmaid” in reference to herself because she realized that her life belonged to God. She also said “be it done to me” because she realized that what had happened in her womb could only be understood as a new creation.

• Evangelized as Mary supposes acceptance of the Word in order to incarnate that Word and in order to make God visible.

• Evangelized like Saint Vincent: He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood" (Mark 12:41-44)

• This is a very moving passage. When we become accustomed to the world of comfort and well-being, we lose sight of the meaning of compassion and we can no longer identify with the suffering of our brothers and sisters. We can learn some powerful lessons from this woman in the gospel, namely, the lesson of total trust in God and the lesson of infinite generosity. This woman was not looking for honors or prestige and she acted in a silent and humble manner. She knew how to give all because she herself had experienced need and was able to understand the needs of others.

• Evangelized as Saint Vincent means that we are willing to learn from the poor.

The second phrase of our motto is an invitation to evangelize. To evangelize is to proclaim the gospel, to live today in accord with the lifestyle of Jesus (a lifestyle that is challenging and provocative). To evangelize is to identify ourselves with Jesus’ plan, to be on the road, to have total trust in God. To evangelize is to free ourselves from the chains that lead us to seek power and security and social prestige … instead we identify with the least members of society, we heal those who suffer, we seek peace for all people.

As members of the Vincentian Marian Youth Association you are called to evangelize from the perspective of your identity, that is, as young men and women, as imitators of Mary and followers of Saint Vincent.

• To evangelize like the young man: You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? … You are the light of the world … your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly father (Matthew 5:13-16).

• Salt preserves and flavors food; light illuminates and provides clarity. To give flavor and light is to give joy and meaning to life. As a youthful and passionate church that desires to transform the world by giving it hope and thus dispelling the clouds of darkness we are expected to produce those effects that are desired by Jesus and that also reveal our identification with the gospel. Therefore we cannot hide ourselves but must act in order to be seen.

• To evangelize like the young man means that we sow the seeds of joy and hope and that we give witness to the revolutionary uniqueness of Jesus.

• To evangelize like Mary: His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tell you” … Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him (John 2:5, 11).

• Do whatever he tells you are the final words that Mary speaks in the gospels. Those words can be viewed as her last will and testament. Mary is convinced that words alone are not sufficient to evangelize, rather signs and gestures are necessary … signs of friendship and closeness. Evangelization is not simply speaking or preaching or teaching but rather evangelization implies creative action. The signs that Jesus performed in order to reveal God’s love … those signs made the life of people a true blessing.

• To evangelize like Mary means that we trust in Jesus and that we show that trust through our example and through living fearless and free life.

• To evangelize like Saint Vincent: For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me (Matthew 25:35-36).

• Charity is the language of the new evangelization and more than any words this charity is to be expressed through works of justice and peace and fraternity, through works on behalf of those in spiritual and material need. We act in this manner because Jesus, who loves us, is concerned about the whole person.

• To evangelize like Saint Vincent means that we look upon those who suffer with compassion and serve them with love.

Enlightened by the word “evangelize” you must conjugate other verbs: to opt, to study, to reflect,, to discern, to strengthen, to live with others … therefore,

Blessed are you, young men and women and advisors, you who are evangelized in order to evangelize like the young man because during these days you will create for us an environment of openness and joy and hope, an environment that is the result of all your daily activity which is done in a responsible manner.

Blessed are you, young men and women and advisors, you who are evangelized in order to evangelize like Mary because your attentive listening to the Word of God will provide light to our celebrations, reflections and our process of discernment.

Blessed are you, young men and women and advisors, you who are evangelized in order to evangelize like Vincent de Paul because the poor are the first beneficiaries of your study, work and conclusions.

Blessed are you who have come to this city of Salamanca, this charitable and hospitable city. I am confident that the Association will leave this city strengthened as a result of this Assembly.

I would like to conclude with the words that Saint Paul addressed to Timothy: Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity … Do not neglect the gift you have (1 Timothy 4:12, 14).

Translated: Charles T. Plock, CM