Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way by Pope John Paul Ii

Author:Pope John Paul Ii [Paul, Pope John Ii]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, General, Religion, BIO000000
ISBN: 9780446510950
Google: 2w2jv04zsxQC
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2007-09-03T00:20:30.505523+00:00

Caritas

One of a pastor’s duties is concern for the least, as that word is understood in the Gospels. In the Acts of the Apostles and the Letters of Saint Paul, we read about collections organized by the Apostles to provide for the needs of the poor. I should like to mention here the example of Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra in Asia Minor during the fourth century. At that time, the Christians of the East and the West were not yet divided, and both traditions are represented in the devotion to this saint. In fact, he is equally venerated in both East and West. His person, though shrouded in many legends, continues to exert a certain fascination, especially on account of his goodness. Children in particular turn to him with deep trust.

How many of our problems can be resolved when we begin with confident prayer! As children we all waited for Saint Nicholas to bring us presents. The communists wanted to deprive him of his sanctity, so they invented Grandfather Frost. Unfortunately, in the West, Nicholas has now become popular in the context of consumerism. Nowadays people seem to have forgotten that his goodness and generosity were, first and foremost, the measure of his holiness. He distinguished himself as a bishop by his great concern for the poor and needy. I remember that as a child I had a personal devotion to him. Naturally, like every other child, I looked forward to the gifts he would bring me on December sixth. But this expectation had a religious dimension too. Like my peers, I felt a certain veneration toward this saint who unselfishly lavished gifts upon the people, thereby demonstrating his loving concern for them.

In the Church today, the part once played by Saint Nicholas in providing for the needs of the least has been assumed by the institute known as Caritas. In Poland, the communist authorities suppressed this organization, whose protector after the war had been Cardinal Sapieha. As his successor I tried to revive it and support its activities. Monsignor Ferdynand Machay, archpriest of the Basilica of the Assumption in Kraków, helped me greatly in this. Through him I came to know the Servant of God, Hanna Chrzanowska, whom I mentioned earlier, daughter of the distinguished professor Ignacy Chrzanowski, who was arrested at the beginning of the war. I remember him clearly, even though I never had the opportunity to get to know him well. Thanks to the efforts of Hanna Chrzanowska, the apostolate among the sick emerged and started to take shape in the archdiocese. There were many different activities including retreats for the sick in Trzebinia, particularly significant occasions involving many people, among them numerous young volunteers.

In my Apostolic Letter written for the beginning of the new millennium, I reminded everyone of the need for even greater resourcefulness in this area. “Now is the time for a new ‘creativity’ in charity” (Novo millennio ineunte, 50). How could I fail to mention, in this context, that great Missionary

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