Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1 Vincent de Paul, Correspondence, Conferences, Documents, translated and edited by Jacqueline Kilar, DC;
and Marie Poole, DC; et al; annotated by John W. Carven, CM; New City Press, Brooklyn and Hyde Park,
1985-2014; volume XI, page 26; conference 19, “The Spirit of Faith.” Future references to this work will be
indicated using the initials CCD, followed by the volume number, then the page number, for example, CCD
XI, 26.
2 Nouwen, Henri. Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons, Ave Maria Press, 2007, pages 68 and 70.
3 CCD IX, 207; conference 27, “The Practice of Mutual Respect and Gentleness.”
c) Seeing the eyes that penetrate both the heart of God and the heart of every human
being, the heart of every one of us
- What makes this icon such a profound experience are the eyes of Jesus.
- Jesus’s eyes look directly at us and confront us.
- The eyes are the center of the icon.
- They bring to mind the words of the psalmist:
LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
You sift through my travels and my rest;
with all my ways you are familiar (Psalm 139:1-3).
- They are the eyes of God who sees us in our most hidden places and loves us with di-
vine mercy.
- “Where shall we hide ourselves at the sight of so much kindness from God? We shall
4 CCD XII, 67-68; conference 195, “Purpose of the Congregation of the Mission.”
On Sunday, 6 December 2020, the worldwide Vincentian Family will gather virtually
for a prayer service, “One in hope for the Poor.” I invite all members of the Vincentian Fam-
ily, as well as all others who would like to join us, to this moment of prayer. Please share this
invitation within your own branches, as well as among your family members and friends.
Reflection on and contemplation of the icon of the Savior of Zvenigorod, so intertwined
with the theme of the prayer service, can help us to participate even more deeply in the prayer
encounter.
May the Advent experience lead us to the inner joy of Christmas.
Your brother in Saint Vincent,