Among our modest contributions to charity is a small contribution to Catholic Worker every year. They are not, as you all may know, an official Church organization. They do represent a very personal, non-bureaucratic Catholic involvement with the poor.
It goes without saying that the spirit of God's charity lives even in those who do not consciously know God. How could it be otherwise? I find in that a powerful confirmation of His grace in the world.
As someone who has suffered the woes of economic hardships, I did not find comfort in my prayers. I only found, "Who are you to complain, there are people in Africa who have it worse than you do."
I don't know if I'm having a Dark Night of the Soul or what. :confused:
Dr. Acula
I can relate to this all too well. For me "Time" transformed the bitter vinegar of my bad luck and poverty back into wine. With "Time" I gained perspective and a measure of wisdom. In that dark valley the prayers I said seemed to be of no avail ***at the time*** eventually I began to see that I wasted a lot of air blaming God for things not turning out as I has hoped.
Finally I was able to praise God for saving me from certain unhappiness and doom had I "succeeded" on the world's terms. A happy 'fool' am I 
billTuba - excellently stated. Dr. Acula - I've been there. Just this past winter.
Acknowledgement of the Christ in the poor is a centerpiece of our Christology since the Evangelists.”
I read a brief part of “God and The World” last night, which is from Peter Seewald’s discussion with then Cardinal Ratzinger”, and this excerpt, quoting Cardinal Ratzinger, discussed how Jesus’ birth revealed God to the world first to the poor, i.e. shepherds, and that there is a fundamental lesson for all of us in this revelation.
I am uncertain if or to what extent Benedict “lacks contact with the poor or folks who work with the poor”, though I believe he is not suspect of those who care for the poor. Perhaps even in his old age he has more to grow in this aspect of his life—I don’t know—though he is a man and like the rest of us has shortcomings and weaknesses. Your reader can send Pope Benedict a letter…no harm done.
I think there is an obligation of our hierarchy to teach and lead us to care for the poor; however, those of us who are well off materially are consumed with acquiring and having things and more things. So there is a longing we have that easily tempts and distracts us from the Gospel life. In that same book, Cardinal Ratzinger made an observation about the commercialization of Christmas and how it was overtaking the true meaning of Jesus’ birth and revelation to the world. He commented along the lines that we would a great achievement if we took things more simply (i.e. not consumed with gifts, etc.) then we could better experience and contemplate the true meaning of Christmas.
This seems true to our life the other 364 days that are not Christmas Day.
With regard to the Catholic Worker Movement: They did not want the government to step in and take care of the poor. They wanted the Church to step in and take care of the poor. Dorothy Day knew that if the government stepped in it would result in the class warfare, ie Someone struggling and overtaxed sees someone buying groceries with food stamps, and blames them for being overtaxed, not seeing the corporate subsidies, and defense budget, etc, that are really the cause of over taxation. That said many Catholics have betrayed Dorothy Day's legacy, and have become lobbyists, who wine and dine Congress for more government programs, instead of personally helping the poor. Both the right and left in this country have it wrong (as Mark points out in his post). The answer is the Social Teachings of the Church. Finally, I will say that among traditionalists and some conservatives there is a growing awareness of this and an interest in the work of people like Dorothy Day and Fr. Vincent McNabb. They key in my opinion is to not allow the separation of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Many liberal Catholics seem to ignore the spiritual works of mercy, and many conservatives seem to ignore the corporal works of mercy. But I am hopeful this trend will be reversed and has already started its reversal. Poverty, is almost considered a sacramental in the Church. God's poor hold a special place in His heart, and are an occasion of grace to other Catholics who meet them. Poverty only became shameful with the promotion of Calvinist Protestantism.
Dear Dr. Acula,
I think my mom has grabbed the phone line and is answering your prayers, as "There's children starving in Africa" was and is one of her favorite lines. (The fact that she is still alive does not necessarily make this impossible. That eternity and Body of Christ thing.)
I advise you to pretend to cheer up, as the next step is "I'll give you something to cry about." And as she is still alive, she could come over to your house!
Seriously, sometimes "it stinks, but other people have it worse" is all the comfort we get. So all you can do is smile. It'll make you feel better. (It's a nerves and muscles thing.)
Regarding Servant of God Archbishop Oscar Romero, it's worth noting some comments the Holy Father made at the start of his trip to Brazil last year:
The Italian news agencies ANSA and APCOM have reported on the Pope's statements to journalists at the start of the trip to Brazil. Here is a translation:
About The Church and Latin American problems:
"The Church as an institution does not do politics, we respect secularity, but the Church indicates the conditions in which social problems can be resolved....The Church's mission is religious, but it opens the way for the solution of important social problems."
About liberation theology:
"There is room in the Church for a legitimate debate on how to create the conditions necessary for human liberation, how to make Church social doctrine effective, and how to indicate the social and human conditions in which the right values can grow."
He added that "The situation has changed profoundly from when liberation theology was born...It is clear that the facile millenarisms that thought they could realize a complete revolution of human life were wrong. Now everyone knows this. Ut the point is what role should the Church play inthe struggle for justice - theologians and sociologists are divided over this."
He noted that when he was at the CDF, "we tried to discern how the church could get rid of these false millenarisms and of politicization."
About El Salvador's martyr bishop Oscar Romero:
"I have no doubt he will be beatified. I know that the cause is proceeding well at the Congregation for the Cause of Saints," but said he did not have precise information.
"He was certainly a great witness for the faith, a man of great Christian virtue who was committed to peace anad against dictatorship." Recalling that Romero was assassinated during the Consecration of the Host, he said it was 'an incredible death.' [emphasis added]
With regard to the Catholic Worker Movement: They did not want the government to step in and take care of the poor. They wanted the Church to step in and take care of the poor.
Excellent point, Christopher. Catholics everywhere would do well to think likewise.
They key in my opinion is to not allow the separation of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
This seems very sound. I'll try to remember it.
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