The Evolution Of A Vow

The Evolution of a Vow

For centuries, the vow of obedience has been at the heart of religious life. With the renewal efforts of Vatican II, the vow has been dramatically restructured but not theologically re-envisioned. The Evolution of a Vow: Obedience as Decision Making in Communion addresses the changes in the vow and proposes a renewed theology that supports the living out of obedience in the twenty-first century. Obedience-in-communion, as a theological proposal, invites vowed religious to create a pattern of limitless listening that everywhere seeks the call of God to communion. Against the horizon of communion, obedience becomes the singular thread of grace by which vowed religious become who they are called to be.

The Evolution of a Vow

The Vincentians: A General History of the Congregation of the Mission

Their mission was humble and simple: to reach the poor country people, who suffered from ignorance of their faith, a debased clergy, and poverty. In response, Vincent De Paul defined the vocation of his “Little Company” as preaching local missions for free, educating the clergy, and working to relieve the people’s poverty. Soon, however, this vocation was complicated by commands to minister to royal families, including Louis xiv of France and the kings and queens of Poland, which would embroil the Vincentians in international and ecclesiastical politics. In addition, they would begin dangerous foreign missions, such as ministering to the Christian captives of the Barbary pirates, the debased colonists and rebellious natives of Madagascar, and the vendetta-prone Corsicans. For the first time, modern readers have a thoroughly researched history based on original documents and the studies of numerous scholars, past and present. It portrays the Vincentians’ daily lives and describes their failings as well as their exalted acts of heroism. It also details the social and political milieus that conditioned their lives and work. It is an important, down-to-earth side of history not often told.