AIC TRAINING BOOKLET 2014 - JUNE - Let us be enchanted by St Vincents Project

REFLECTION FOR JUNE:

Attitudes and Values of Every AIC Volunteer
Text: Lottie Espinoza de Pivaral --- Translation: Father harlie Ploc!
Introduction:
Our attitudes and a!ues as AIC "#!unteers $#%e a!ie &'en &e (e$#%e a&are #) t'e %anner in &'i$'
G#d %ade 'is *resen$e )e!t in t'e !i)e #) "in$ent de +au! and t'us dis$#er t'e )unda%enta! as*e$ts #) 'is
*ra,er e-*erien$e. T'#se attitudes and a!ues &ere t'e resu!t #) t'e *ra$ti$e #) t'e irtues t'at 'e ie&ed
as /)unda%enta! irtues0 and t'at n#& 'ae (e$#%e t'e )#undati#ns t'at ena(!e us t# insert #urse!es int#
t'e %idst #) t'e 'u%an rea!ities in &'i$' &e are !iin1 and serin12 and t# insert #urse!es &it' a $reatie
and !i)e-1iin1 d,na%i$.
Development of the Theme:
3e understand s*iritua!it, as a set #) $#n$e*ts and attitudes t'at $'ara$teri4e t'e s*iritua! !i)e #) an
indiidua! #r a 1r#u* #) *e#*!e. T'e s*iritua!it, #) "in$ent de +au! and 'is s*e$i)i$ %anner #) )#!!#&in1
Jesus C'rist 'ad its #ri1ins in a *#&er)u! en$#unter &it' G#d and &it' C'rist in t'e &#r!d #) t'e *##r5 &'i$'
in turn !ed 'i% t# t'e dis$#er, #) ne& a!ues and attitudes as 'e !ied 'is !i)e in a$$#rdan$e &it' t'e
1#s*e!.
T'ese attitudes and a!ues are t'e *rin$i*!es t'at eer, AIC #!unteer #u1't t# *ra$ti$e in #rder t# )u!)i!! t'e
&i!! #) G#d and t'e %issi#n #) C'rist5 ean1e!i4er #) t'e *##r. T'at &as t'e &a, in &'i$' "in$ent de +au!
!ied 'is !i)e.
In #rder t# d# t'is &e need t# (e!iee in and understand t'e "in$entian $'aris% in su$' a &a, t'at &e 'ae
n# 'esitati#n in $#%%uni$atin1 t'is 1i)t t# a!! t'#se &'#% &e sere 6t'r#u1' #ur a$tiit, &e &i!!
de%#nstrate t'e $'aris%7. T'#se !iin1 in *#ert, #u1't t# see L#uise de 8ari!!a$ and "in$ent de +au! in
ea$' #ne #) us.
9aint "in$ent s*#:e #)ten a(#ut t'e ari#us irtues and )#$used 'is attenti#n #n t'#se as*e$ts t'at &#u!d
$'a!!en1e %en and &#%en t# !ie in su$' a &a, t'at5 as stated in t'e 1#s*e!; /(, t'eir )ruits ,#u &i!! :n#&
t'e%" 6C). 8att'e& 12;2<7.
3e are a!! a&are #) t'e )a$t t'at t'e s$a!e #) a!ues $'an1es. 8an, )a$t#rs in)!uen$e t'e 'ierar$', #)
'u%an and C'ristian a!ues and t'ese sa%e )a$t#rs &i!! in)!uen$e #ur re)!e$ti#n #n t'e irtues and t'e
a!ues t'at t'ese irtues $#ntain.
T'e irtues t'at "in$ent de +au! e%*'asi4ed )!#&ed )r#% 'is isi#n #) t'e 9#n #) G#d &'# (e$a%e
in$arnated in t'e &#r!d and a!s# (e$a%e t'e ean1e!i4er #) t'e *##r. =ere t'en &e re)er t# simplicity
humility !entleness ch"rity mortific"tion "nd #e"l for the s"lv"tion of souls. 9aint "in$ent inited
t'e Ladies #) C'arit,5 as !a,&#%en5 t# !ie (, t'e )irst t'ree irtues; si%*!i$it,5 'u%i!it, and $'arit,. As &e
!ie #ur !i)e in a$$#rd &it' t'ese irtues and $!#t'e #urse!es in attitudes t'at are *r#*er t# t'e $'i!dren #)
G#d5 &e are a(!e t# de%#nstrate t'e a!ues t'at are u*'e!d (, a!! AIC #!unteers.
3', t'ese t'ree irtues and n#t #t'ers> "in$ent &#u!d sa,; /I 'ae $'#sen t'ese t'ree irtues (e$ause
t'e, are %#st essentia! t# t'e *r#$ess #) ean1e!i4ati#n. 3'at is %#st essentia! a(#ut t'ese t'ree irtues
is t'at t'e, $#nstitute a s*iritua! *r#1ra% )#r #ur a*#st#!i$ a$tiit,. T'ese irtues n#t #n!, )#$us #n #ur
interi#r !i)e (ut %#re s*e$i)i$a!!, dea! &it' #ur re!ati#ns'i* &it' #ur nei1'(#r5 &it' #ur AIC; si%*!i$it, in #ur
a$tiit,? 'u%i!it, in #ur en$#unter &it' #t'ers and $'arit,5 &'i$' %a:es it easier t# esta(!is' re!ati#ns'i*s
&it' #ur sisters and (r#t'ers &'# are !iin1 in *#ert,0. Let us ana!,4e ea$' #ne #) t'ese irtues.
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AIC TRAINING BOOKLET 2014 - JUNE - Let us be enchanted by St Vincents Project
1) Simplicity
$h"t is the me"nin! of this virtue% /G#d %ade 'u%an:ind si%*!e5 (ut *e#*!e 'ae re$#urse t# %an,
$a!$u!ati#ns0 6E$$!esiastes E;2F7. A(#e a!! e!se5 si%*!i$it, $#nsists #) s*ea:in1 t'e trut' s# t'at t'ere is a
'ar%#n, (et&een &'at &e sa, and t'in: and d#. 9i%*!i$it, %eans t'at &e are trans*arent in #ur s*ee$'
and t'at &e s*ea: a(#ut t'in1s as t'e, are5 t'at &e are n#t du*!i$it#us #r d# n#t 'ae 'idden a1endas.
Gina!!,5 it %eans t'at &e a$t )r#% a !#e )#r G#d and5 t'us )#r n# #t'er %#tie.
$hy should &e pr"ctice this virtue% "in$entian 1r#u*s and ass#$iati#ns #u1't t# (e 1r#unded in
$#%%uni$ati#n and trust and unit,. T'#se &'# *ra$ti$e &'at t'e, sa,5 s*ea: &it' 1reater %#ra! aut'#rit,
and t'at rea!it, a!#ne is su))i$ient reas#n t# *ra$ti$e t'is irtue.
9aint "in$ent te!!s us; /ItHs a%#n1 t'e%5 a%#n1 t'#se *##r *e#*!e t'at true re!i1i#n and a !iin1 )ait' are
*resered? t'e, (e!iee si%*!,5 &it'#ut disse$tin1 eer,t'in1? t'e, su(%it t# #rder and are *atient a%id t'e
a(Ie$t *#ert, t'e, 'ae t# su))er as !#n1 as it *!eases G#d5 s#%e )r#% t'e &ars5 #t'ers )r#% &#r:in1 a!!
da, !#n1 in t'e 1reat 'eat #) t'e sun? *##r ine dressers5 &'# 1ie us t'eir !a(#r5 &'# e-*e$t us t# *ra, )#r
t'e% &'i!e t'e, &ear t'e%se!es #ut t# )eed us0 6CCJ;KI;1F07.
9i%*!i$it, is indis*ensa(!e )#r t'e #!unteers &'# 1# #ut t# en$#unter t'#se !iin1 in *#ert, and t'is irtue
is reea!ed in t'e %anner in &'i$' &e re$eie5 !isten t# and s*ea: &it' #t'ers. 3e $an a$'iee t'is
t'r#u1' t'e *r#$ess #) #n-1#in1 trainin1. T'us t'e 1reat $'a!!en1e )#r eer, #!unteer is t# (e a(!e t# sa,
&it' 9aint "in$ent; /si%*!i$it, is %, 1#s*e!0 6CCJ;IK;4EC7.
2) Humility
$h"t is the me"nin! of this virtue% /Ta:e %, ,#:e u*#n ,#u and !earn )r#% %e5 )#r I a% %ee: and
'u%(!e #) 'eart? and ,#u &i!! )ind rest )#r ,#urse!es0 68att'e& 11;2F7. =u%i!it, %eans t'at &e re$#1ni4e
eer,t'in1 t'at is 1##d as $#%in1 )r#% G#d2 it %eans t'at &e &i!!in1!, e%*t, #urse!es #) #urse!es.
"in$ent te!!s us t'at Jesus and 'is 8#t'er #u1't t# (e #ur %#de!s )#r t'e *ra$ti$e #) 'u%i!it,. Indeed5
'u%i!it, is t'e #ri1in #) a!! t'e 1##d t'at &e $an d#. =u%i!it, i%*!ies an attitude #) seri$e #n (e'a!) #) t'e
L#rd and #n (e'a!) #) #ur (r#t'ers and sisters. =u%i!it, a!s# %eans t'at &e a!!#& #urse!es t# (e
ean1e!i4ed (, t'e *##r5 /#ur !#rds and %asters" 6CCJ;K;21B7.
$hy should &e pr"ctice this virtue% T'e *ri%ar, a!ue #) 'u%i!it, is t'at (, t'e *ra$ti$e #) t'is irtue &e
i%itate #ur L#rd &'# 'ad 'u%i!it, as /'is irtue0 6CCJ;KI;4C7.
=u%i!it, a!!#&s us t# re$#1ni4e #urse!es as /$reatures0 #) G#d &'# need #t'er *ers#ns 6&e $ann#t !ie
&it'#ut #t'ers7. =u%i!it, a!s# 'e!*s us re$#1ni4e #ur !i%itati#ns and #ur sin)u!ness and t'us !eads us t#
trust in G#d. =u%i!it, is a &a, t# de)end #urse!es )r#% t'e te%*tati#n #) a%(iti#n and anit,5 &'i!e at t'e
sa%e ti%e it *r#ides us &it' inner *ea$e and is t'us seen as t'e )#undati#n )#r *er)e$ti#n and t'e
*rin$i*!e #n &'i$' t'e &'#!e s*iritua! !i)e is (ui!t. T'r#u1' t'e *ra$ti$e #) 'u%i!it, &e $an #er$#%e t'e
#(sta$!es t'at $#u!d !ead us t# a$t in a &a, t'at is $#ntrar, t# t'e *!an #) G#d.
T#da, t'e )a$t t'at *e#*!e !a$: an e-*erien$e #) G#d 'as $reated a $risis in a!ues &'i$' 'as !e)t us &it' a
s#$iet, in &'i$' &e )ind /$#rru*ti#n #) #ur nature5 t'e )i$:!eness #) #ur %ind5 t'e dar:ness #) #ur
understandin15 t'e dis#rder #) #ur &i!!5 and t'e !a$: #) *urit, #) #ur a))e$ti#ns0 6CCJ;KII;1CF-1E07.
=#& $an &e (e 'u%(!e> 9aint "in$ent stated; /=u%i!it,5 %a, t'is (e #ur *ass&#rdL0 6CCJ;KII;1CF7. In #ur
a$tiit, as "in$entian #!unteers &e #)ten run t'e ris: #) (ein1 d#%ineerin1 and )ee!in1 t'at &e are se!)-
su))i$ient and t'ere)#re &e $!in1 t# #ur #&n ideas and %et'#ds and re)use t# $#!!a(#rate &it' #t'ers.
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AIC TRAINING BOOKLET 2014 - JUNE - Let us be enchanted by St Vincents Project
3e !a$: 'u%i!it, &'en &e a!!#& #urse!es t# (e 1uided (, #ur *reIudi$es &'i$' ena(!e us t# $ate1#ri4e
*ers#ns &it' su$' 1reat )a$i!it,? &'en &e s*ea: !i1't!, a(#ut t'e ne1atie as*e$ts #) #t'er #!unteers?
&'en &e are !a4, &it' re1ard t# *ra,er? &'en &e are una(!e t# (e$#%e ent'usiasti$ a(#ut rene&a! and #n-
1#in1 trainin1? &'en &e re)use t# s'are #ur *#ssessi#ns &it' t'#se !iin1 in *#ert, 6and n#t #n!, #ur
*#ssessi#ns (ut a!s# &'en &e re)use t# s'are #ur ti%e5 #ur ta!ent and #ur !i)e &it' t'e%7. /8a, 'u%i!it, (e
#ur *ass&#rdL0 6CCJ;KII;1CF7. In #rder t# attain 'u%i!it, &e #u1't t# a$$e*t #ur s'#rt-$#%in1s and #ur
)au!ts and t'e $#rre$ti#n t'at is 1ien t# us. A(#e a!! &e #u1't t# *ra, and as: G#d and t'e B!essed
"ir1in )#r t'e 1ra$e t# (e 'u%(!e and /t# e%*t, #urse!es #) se!) in #rder t# $!#t'e #urse!es &it' Jesus
C'rist0 6CCJ;KI;<117. T#da, 9aint "in$ent &#u!d s*ea: t# t'e #!unteers and te!! t'e%; /Jear %e%(ers #)
AIC5 ,#u %ust understand t'at ,#u &i!! neer (e a(!e t# d# t'e &#r: #) G#d un!ess ,#u 'ae dee* 'u%i!it,.
On!, t'en $an ,#u (e $ertain t'at ,#u are a(!e t# d# t'e &#r: #) G#d2 indeed5 G#d uses su$' *ers#ns )#r
'is 1reat &#r:0.
3) Charity
$h"t is the me"nin! of this virtue% T'e essen$e #) $'arit, is )#und in 8att'e& E;12 and is #)ten :n#&n
as 'The (olden Rule); /J# )#r #t'ers &'at ,#u &ant t'e% t# d# )#r ,#u; t'is is t'e %eanin1 #) t'e La& #)
8#ses and #) t'e tea$'in1s #) t'e *r#*'ets0 68att. E;127.
B, a**!,in1 t'e G#!den Ru!e &e &#u!d n#t #n!, trans)#r% #urse!es (ut $#u!d trans)#r% a!! t'#se ar#und
us; 3e $#u!d *ut an end t# %isunderstandin1s5 disa1ree%ents5 se!)is'ness5 resent%ent5 se!)-i%*#rtan$e5
et$.
I) &e tru!, re$#1ni4e Jesus C'rist as #ur L#rd5 'is '(olden Rule) &i!! 1#ern #ur !ies.
$hy should &e pr"ctice this virtue% C'arit, is an #(!i1ati#n? it is a diine *re$e*t &'i$' en$#%*asses
#t'ers. Eer,#ne :n#&s t'at #ur !#e )#r G#d and #ur nei1'(#r in$!udes a!! t'e !a&s and t'e *r#*'etHs
tea$'in1s. Eer,t'in1 is $#ntained in t'is !#e5 eer,t'in1 is dire$ted t#&ards it? and it 'as s# %u$' )#r$e
and *ri%a$, t'at t'e *ers#n &'# e-*resses it )u!)i!s t'e !a& #) G#d5 as &e a!! re!ate t# t'is !#e5 and it is
&'at %a:es us d# t'at &'i$' G#d as:s #) us. =#&eer t'is !#e d#esnHt Iust re)er t# !#e )#r G#d5 (ut a!s#
$'arit, t#&ards #ur nei1'(#r? it is s# 1reat t'at 'u%an understandin1 $ann#t $#%*re'end it? &e need t#
rise a(#e t'e stars in t'e s:, t# see '#& 'i1' and dee* it runs.
Is it true t'at I &i!! d# )#r %, nei1'(#rs t'at &'i$' I &is' t'e% t# d# )#r %e> T'is is a seri#us se!)-
e-a%inati#n t'at &e 'ae t# underta:e. =#& %an, #) us 'ae t'is dis*#siti#n &it'in us> I) &e !#e #ur
nei1'(#rs5 $an &e eer s*ea: i!! #) t'e%> Can &e d# s#%et'in1 t'at dis*!eases t'e%> I) &e 'ae t'is
)ee!in1 in #ur 'earts5 $an &e see #ur nei1'(#rs &it'#ut s'#&in1 t'e% #ur !#e>
T'e %#ut' s*ea:s )r#% t'e a(undan$e #) t'e 'eart? n#r%a!!, #ur e-teri#r a$ti#ns (ear &itness t# &'at is
inside #) us? t'#se t'at 'ae true $'arit, inside5 &i!! s'#& it #n t'e #utside. As it is $'ara$teristi$ #) )ire t#
!i1't and 'eat5 it is $'ara$teristi$ #) !#e t# res*e$t and *!ease t'e (e!#ed.
=en$e it is i%*#rtant t'at &e as #!unteers *r#%#te !#e and s#!idarit,; a%#n1 ea$' #t'er and inside t'e
Ass#$iati#n? (et&een #urse!es and t'e %#st disadanta1ed? (et&een disadanta1ed *ers#ns and a%#n1
a!! %e%(ers #) $ii! s#$iet, and t'e C'ur$'.
*erson"l "nd Community Reflection:
In si!en$e re)!e$t #n t'ese irtues and as: ,#urse!); &'i$' #) t'ese d# I )ind %#st di))i$u!t t# *ra$ti$e> 3'at
$an (e d#ne s# t'at I )ind it easier t# *ra$ti$e t'is irtue>
+ctivities "nd ,uestions:
AIC ais(!5 Ra%*e des Ardennais 2<5 1<4@ L#uain-!a-Neue5 Be!1iu% -- A<2 607 10 4B C< B< -- in)#Dai$-internati#na!.#r1
AIC TRAINING BOOKLET 2014 - JUNE - Let us be enchanted by St Vincents Project
Get int# 1r#u*s and in t'e )#r% #) an e-a%inati#n #) ,#ur $#ns$ien$e5 re)!e$t #n;
3'at e-*ressi#ns #) si%*!i$it, d# I ie& as %#st ne$essar, )#r %, *ers#na! and C'ristian dee!#*%ent
as a %e%(er #) t'is Ass#$iati#n>
In t'e !i)e #) %, 1r#u*;
=#& 'as a !a$: #) 'u%i!it, *reented %e )r#% dee!#*in1 t'e 1i)ts t'at G#d 'as 1ien %e>
Are %, a$ti#ns $#nsistent &it' %, &#rds and &it'#ut ',*#$ris,5 arti)i$e #r )a!se *retensi#ns>
J# I sti%u!ate t'e #t'er #!unteers (, $#%%uni$atin1 %, ent'usias% )#r serin1 t'#se !iin1 in
*#ert,>
Prayer and Hymn
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