Fr. Robert Maloney writes on “Some Opportunities for Creativity in the Congregation of the Mission Today”            Jesus was very aware that works speak to us more powerfully than words, that witness moves us more forcefully than commands, and that symbols engage us more profoundly than sermons.  In fact, in reflecting about creativity, this was the point that St. Vincent most admired about Jesus.  It is the origin of a text that is one of the most popular sayings of St. Vincent today and which appears on the front page of our Vincentian Family web site.  The context is quite different from what we normally think of when we use this text.  St. Vincent was speaking to a dying brother, encouraging him to trust in God’s mercy.  After describing many of the signs of God’s tender love, he told the brother that Jesus, foreseeing his death, did not want to leave his followers alone, fearing that in his absence their hearts would grow cold.  And so, he tells the brother, “since love is creative even to infinity … Jesus instituted this venerable sacrament which serves as food and drink for us … Because love is eager to do everything it can, he so willed it.” [1]

THE CREATIVITY OF ST. VINCENT

            I suspect that Vincent himself would deny that he was creative.  Many historians tell us that he was not a particularly original thinker.  But my own judgment is that St. Vincent was remarkably creative in this sense: he listened well; he knew a good idea when he heard one and he was inventive in putting good ideas into practice.  He had the capacity to shape good ideas into concrete forms, many of which have lasted for hundreds of years.  I offer you three rapid examples.

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