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Saint Vincent De Paul: A Creative Reconciler, Margaret John Kelly D.C.

Vincentian Heritage Journal

Vatican II emphasized the need for Catholics and Catholic religious communities to focus on their beginnings (their primitive spirit). Margaret John Kelly uses this imperative to show how the roots of “the modern charities movement” are found in the work and leadership of Vincent de Paul. She explains why it is important to remember Vincent. The many parallels between his time and Church and our own are discussed, as is his relevance. Kelly calls him “a creative reconciler” because he was able to harness competing interests and make them work together in concrete ways for the service of the poor. …