Who do people say that I am?
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So many Catholics with 'special causes' like to give the Holy Father some sort of grandiose title - in the manner they have done with John Paul II - calling him the 'great' before its time, as it were. What is wrong with Venerable? Now Benedict is getting titles such as the Pope of Christian unity, or other appellations reflecting various causes. If anything the Holy Father should be identified as all Christians ought to be, by his love, his charity. After all, wasn't his first encyclical based upon that?
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It is the supernatural virtue of charity that is most attractive to souls, and it is frequently lacking in all of our discourse. Read what the Holy Father said to some of the most vulnerable amongst us, the angelic ones, the truly simple...
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"Therefore, it is indispensable [...] that those who suffer physical illnesses or handicaps can always receive that love and attention required to make them feel valued as persons in their concrete needs".
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"I would also like to express my appreciation to the authorities, and I invite them to increase their efforts to provide adequate social services and assistance to the most needy. I also thank those who, with their generous support, build up and sustain private welfare institutions, such as this special education school of Nen Deu. At a time when many households are faced with serious economic difficulties, the followers of Christ must multiply concrete gestures of effective and constant solidarity, showing in this way that charity is the hallmark of our Christian life.
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"The dedication of the basilica of the Sagrada Familia", he added, "has highlighted that churches are the sign of the true sanctuary of God among men. Here, I would like to emphasise how, through the efforts of this and similar church institutions ... it is clear that, for the Christian, every man and woman is a true sanctuary of God, and should be treated with the highest respect and affection, above all when they are in need. In this way, the Church desires to put into practice the words of the Lord in the Gospel, 'I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me'".
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I always remember in my prayers those who are dedicated to helping the suffering, and those who work tirelessly so that the handicapped can take their rightful place in society and not be marginalised because of their limitations. In this respect, I wish to recognise, in a special way, the faithful witness of priests and those who visit the sick at home, in hospitals or in other specialised institutions. They incarnate that important ministry of consolation in the face of human frailty, which the Church seeks to carry out in imitation of the Good Samaritan". - Source
What beautiful words from our Holy Father...the depths of his love for all people, esp. those who are vulnerable and marginalized, speak of the love of our Lord.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
People can be so cruel....in my government building we used to have a contract with a home that had higher-level function adults...they would do simple tasks such as taking out the trash....it made them feel so important and gave them a bit of dignity and self-worth....however there were mean people at work who would tease them, make fun of them, or feel uncomfortable because their hygiene was not perhaps as good as it could be..
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Turkey the mentally challenged were considered angels from God, and extra effort was made to accomodate them and care for them as best as a poor 3rd world village could. Also the senile elderly and those with Alheizmer's....although it would get a bit irritating when this one crazy old lady kept breaking out the headlights in my pickup with rocks...but the car repair guy always replaced them for free..
Sara