Serving the Poor

[smad0142]

What should the average Catholic layperson do in service of the poor? Is it enough to pray daily for the poor and needy and to give them money whenever one can on the street corner?
Or should our giving be more intentional and structured, and should we include community service time as well? Thanks!!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

The poor are all around you. They are not materially poor, but poor in other aspects, whether it be faith, lonliness or whatever.

Be there for them, and you’ll be serving Christ.

Not everyone is called to be a Mother Teresa.

In fact, the advice I wrote above, comes from Mother Teresa.

Jim

 

[Splagchnizomai]

What should the average Catholic layperson do in service of the poor? Is it enough to pray daily for the poor and needy and to give them money whenever one can on the street corner?
Or should our giving be more intentional and structured, and should we include community service time as well? Thanks!!

Yes to all!

For more info, I’d recommend reading Fr Dubay’s Happy Are You Poor.

To the modern mind, the concept of poverty is often confused with destitution. But destitution emphatically is not the Gospel ideal. A love-filled sharing frugality is the message, and Happy Are You Poor explains the meaning of this beatitude lived and taught by Jesus himself. But isn’t simplicity in lifestyle meant only for nuns and priests? Are not all of us to enjoy the goodness and beauties of our magnificent creation? Are parents to be frugal with the children they love so much?

The renowned spiritual writer Dubay gives surprising replies to these questions. He explains how material things are like extensions of our persons and thus of our love. If everyone lived this love there would be no destitution.

After presenting the richness of the Gospel message, more beautiful than any other world view, he explains how Gospel frugality is lived in each state of life.

 

[in_servitude]

What should the average Catholic layperson do in service of the poor?

You have a choice as to how much you help those around you. Any time you help, it is a gift to them. Plus, it is an offering to Jesus. If you are given the required list of services to perform, it does something bad - it turns your gift into an obligation.

I’ve spent a lot of time praying the question, “How much…?” I don’t get an answer. I have come to the conclusion that I’m not going to get an answer. The reason, I have come to believe, is that Jesus wants our gifts to remain gifts.

 

[hank3fan]

i’ve been thinking about this one myself. i find that since my return to the Church, my prayers and the Gospel messge prompts me to do some good works for others. i can offer u no advice since i am new at this, but i can tell u what i have been thinking of and it may be of use. in my parish, we have the society of st vincent de paul, so maybe i should give them money or volunteer. we also have an old folks hospital, and i am sure there are plenty of lonely old people who are at least poor in spirit, so maybe i should start paying people a visit, or something along those lines. i’m new to this,but any of the above might be a start.