Visits to the poor of Our Lady

The poor of Our Lady. This refined act of charity also began very early on, with the first steps of the Work. Declina pauperi sine tristitia aurem tuam ..., et responde illi pacifica in mansuetudine (Sir 4:8); incline your ear to the pauper … and answer him peaceably and gently.

Refinement of charity

These visits are very warm; we listen to the people with affection and bring them kind words that are Christian and fraternal. We also bring them a little treat of a sort that they would not normally be able to enjoy. This expression of spiritual charity does our St Raphael fellows a lot of good.

Their effectiveness with young people

This contact with deprivation or human weakness is an occasion Our Lord often employs to enkindle in a soul untold desires of generosity and of divine adventures. At the same time it makes these younger boys and girls more sensitive, so that they will always have a deep concern for justice and charity.

Their significance

With these simple visits we are not trying to remedy any sort of social problem. Explain this to the fellows. It is a matter of bringing a little gift which for the poor person is out of the ordinary and which will bring comfort to that person, or to someone who is sick or alone. It will help them enjoy themselves for a time, while perhaps doing some small act of service for them, and nothing more.

They will understand this right away if their interior life is growing and if in addition they know that we are doing this to honour Our Lady. She is a mother, Mother of God and our Mother too, and she knows what young hearts are trying to express through these little acts of love for their more needy brethren.