The Vincentian Marian Youth (abbreviated JMV in other languages) came about under the influence of the apparitions of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal to St. Catherine Labouré. Its purpose: “To form members to live a solid faith following Jesus Christ the evangelizer of the poor. To live and pray like Mary, with simplicity and humility, taking on the spirituality of the Magnificat. To arouse, animate and sustain the missionary spirit of the association, especially through missionary experiences to those who are poorest and to youth.”
Jasmine Cajuste, VMY International President, reflects, “The story that started in July 1830 continues to offer youth a meaningful and joyful way to live the Christian faith as they evangelize, and are evangelized, by those most in need. Two sets of words summarize the purpose of VMY: “To Jesus with Mary” and “To Live, to Contemplate, and to Serve”. In this amazing journey of Christian living, each young person is given the opportunity to envision his/her life as part of God’s project, as a call to mission and as a testimony of Christ’s presence in our hearts and in our midst. Life becomes an exciting project with God, under the maternal guidance of Mary and in favor of our brothers and sisters. With approximately 100,000 members working in 65 countries [written March, 2015] and a great network of collaborators within the Vincentian Family, VMY offers many other young people like me, the grace of belonging to a larger family and a long chain of service that embraces the world. If most of our membership is composed of teenagers, VMY welcomes children and young adults as well, according to the needs and realities of the specific countries.”
2 Comments on “Vincentian Marian Youth (1830)”
As a member of the Vincentian Family, I am in the process of starting a group in Gaborone, Botswana. Pray for us.
I am a member of St. Vincent de Paul.
God bless your new group.