This is somewhat related, but it’s a story that really touched me lately, so I thought I’d share. At my parish a couple of months ago, a man came in who was obviously struggling in his life. His hair was rather long and in disarray, he was missing many of his teeth, and he was wearing an overcoat and shorts to Sunday Mass. I heard some very uncharitable comments about him (and even made one or two), and no one really talked to him.
Then I saw him again. And again. He started coming almost every day. I decided to take a risk and talk to the man. Come to find out, he’s a cradle Catholic and his uncle was a priest. He was an older gentleman, and he said that he loved our Latin Mass because it was like when he was a kid. He told me of making a pilgrimage to Lourdes, and about how he had very bad arthritis and hoped to be able to go again. He had been a History major at a nearby college and was into genealogy, and told of being related to the French Huguenots from way back. He told me that he started bringing pants with him to church, and switching out from his shorts, because it was too hot to walk back and forth from church in his pants. My husband saw him near his work many miles away, so I’m sure he actually has a long walk/bus ride to make it to church. I realized the only reason he wore the overcoat is because it was the “dressiest” jacket he had. And sitting close to him, I found he had obviously taken care of his hygiene as best that he could - he didn’t smell, or have bad breath. He just had some crazy hair.
I felt like a real heel when I realized how quickly I had come to judge this man, and how quickly I had forgotten the “least brethren” teachings of Christ. I’m so grateful that I reached out to him. There’s still very few people who talk to him, and he comes every Sunday. I usually sit by him in Mass now on Sundays in the back row, seeing as how I’m usually sliding in about 30 seconds before Father walks in.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that it’s probable that if a person is going to Communion, no matter how disheveled they look, they are truly Catholic and looking to find peace with Christ. I know that at a small chapel in downtown Dallas, when homeless people want money or food, they just ask the priest because it is well known that he will give them vouchers for a meal at a restaurant near the church (owned by a Catholic). Same with the Cathedral downtown from what I understand.
and should be freerly given to any stranger walking in per se and an offer of buiscuits without asking for money and if they ask if they have to pay - you say, “no because its their first time” so they don’t feel bad if they are indeed looking for food.