On 10 September Cardinal Vincent celebrated the Mass for Volunteers.
In his homily, the Cardinal, echoing the words of St Augustine, said that workers of charity 'show forth the Trinity'. 'Every act of charity, understood and seen in its deepest dimensions, in its full beauty, lays bare the plan, the mind of God our Father who, moved by love, sends his Son into our world to bear our burdens.'
Quoting Pope Emeritus Benedict and his words on volunteers, the Cardinal said: 'I thank you all for your generous work in the great fields of mercy which, as Pope Benedict said so clearly, are an essential part of the mission of the Church, from its very beginning (Deus Caritas Est 32). Indeed, he reminded us that the three essential actions of the Church are those of proclaiming the word of God, celebrating the sacraments and exercising the ministry of charity. Then he added: 'these duties presuppose each other and are inseparable' (DCE 25).'
He went on to tell the congregation of volunteers from across the diocese about how giving love first means we must acknowledge the love of Jesus for us. Only then are we able to generously give to others. 'Anyone who wishes to give love must first receive love. Or, in other words, to become a source of love one must constantly drink anew from its true and original source. And that source is Jesus Christ, from whose pierced heart flows the love of God (cf John 19.34) (cf DCE 7).'
The Cardinal also talked about the importance of this celebration happening so soon after the canonisation of St Theresa of Calcutta: 'Mother Teresa, as we may continue to call her, also taught us that Christ's love for us and our love for others are inseparable. When she insisted that service is the fruit of love, she was pointing first to the love of God. Love of God and love of neighbour are inseparable'
He finished by explaining that the heart of the work of volunteers in the diocese is the Eucharist, quoting again from Pope Benedict XVI: 'It is, then, through the Eucharist that the works of charity and mercy find their true energy. Without the Eucharist we will not develop those deep roots that we need to sustain our work in its freshness and spontaneity. It will risk becoming routine and heartless. Yet what those in need most truly need is not only effective help and support but love! This is why Pope Benedict also insisted that the Magna Carta of all ecclesial service is the great saying of St Paul: 'If I have all the eloquence of men or angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing....If I give away all that I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing whatever (cf DCE 34 and 1 Cor 13.1-3)'
Organised by Caritas Westminster, the Mass for volunteers and workers of mercy, was a response to Pope Francis' request that a jubilee for volunteers and workers of mercy be celebrated in this Year of Mercy. This Mass acknowledges the ways in which volunteers embody mercy in generously giving their time and energy. After Mass, the Cardinal greeted volunteers individually, thanking them for their generosity and kindness.
