We must feel personally called upon by the cry for help of those who find themselves in difficult situations. This day is specifically meant to remind us of the importance of acts of charity and aid, from which the invitation to carry them out arises. Discover more.
“Charity is one of the pillars of peace”
Saint John XXIII used to say: “Charity is one of the pillars of peace.” This concept is also reaffirmed in resolution A/RES/67/105, through which the UN established the International Day of Charity in 2012. It states that “charity can contribute to promoting dialogue among people of different cultures and religions, as well as solidarity and mutual understanding.” We are called to adopt a new outlook on the world, an outlook of peace, charity, solidarity, and fraternity.
“Love makes us open our eyes”
Each of us must care about the fate of our brothers and sisters in need, opening ourselves to a relationship with those in need with a loving gaze. “Love makes us open our eyes and broaden our outlook – Pope Francis reminds us –, allowing us to recognize in the stranger we encounter on our path the face of a brother or sister, with a name, a story, a drama to which we cannot remain indifferent. […] And it is always in the light of love that we find the strength and courage to respond to the evil oppressing another person, to respond personally, putting our face, our heart, and rolling up our sleeves.”
A tribute to Mother Teresa of Calcutta
The date of September 5, chosen by the UN for the International Day of Charity, is not accidental. It commemorates the anniversary of the death in 1997 of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a symbol of Christian charity and the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
We all remember the light of Mother Teresa's smile.
A light that reflected her immense charity. Active and contemplative at the same time, she liked to call herself “God's little pencil.” Her message is always relevant: let everyone seek their own Calcutta, also present on the streets of the wealthy West, amid the frenetic pace of our cities. “You can find Calcutta all over the world – she used to say – , if you have eyes to see. Everywhere there are the unloved, the unwanted, the uncared-for, the rejected, the forgotten.”
May the example of Mother Teresa of Calcutta help us open our eyes to the needs of those in need, moving beyond selfishness and putting God's love into circulation.
And did you know about this day? Write it in the comments.
