Charity
vs Philanthropy
GK
was the wonderful work with the poor
of CFC. But those entrusted with it
veered away, began to marginalize Christ,
discarded the evangelistic aspect and
the teaching of gospel values, and even
allowed New Age to infiltrate. The focus
subtly veered away from Christ to simply
that of the poor, from the spiritual
to the merely social, from holiness
to just heroism, from Kingdom building
to mere nation building. Though still
good social action, it is no longer
the work that God intended.
For
CFC-FFL, our work with the poor is a
form of evangelization. Christ will
always be proclaimed and will always
be at the center. The poor are helped
with their material needs, but their
spiritual well-being is not neglected.
We
rejoice in the clear affirmation of
the Holy Father. God bless.
frank
Pope:
Charity Is More Than Philanthropy
Invites Contemplation of Cross
as Source of Hope
VATICAN
CITY, APRIL 3, 2009 (Zenit.org).-
Benedict XVI is affirming that
Christian charitable action,
more than mere philanthropy,
is a form of evangelization,
based on Gospel values and the
desire to share them with others.
The
Pope said this today in an address
to members of the Circle of
St. Peter, a Roman charitable
organization, in an audience
in the Hall of Popes of the
Apostolic Palace.
The charity's president, Duke
Leopold Torlonia, gave the Pontiff
the Peter's Pence donation collected
this year in the parishes of
Rome.
The Holy Father expressed gratitude
for this gesture, which implied
"a concrete participation
in the economic effort that
the Apostolic See makes to meet
the growing urgent needs of
the Church, especially in the
poorest countries of the earth."
Christian
charitable action, he said "is
not just philanthropic action,
though useful and meritorious,"
but a "privileged form
of evangelization, in the light
of the teaching of Jesus, who
will consider whatever we do
for our brothers as done to
himself."
Christian charity goes beyond
material aid, he added, "as
it makes visible, and I would
say almost tangible, on one
hand, the infinite mercy of
God toward every human being
and, on the other, our faith
in Him."
Benedict XVI explained that
this charity consists in "harmonizing
our gaze with Christ's gaze,
our heart with his heart."
He added, "In this way,
loving support offered to others
is translated into participation
and sharing with the weakest
and the marginalized."
Given the proximity of Holy
Week, the Pope invited his audience
to "relive intensely"
these mysteries as a "propitious
occasion to reaffirm and purify
your faith, to open yourselves
to the contemplation of the
Cross which is a mystery of
infinite love from which to
draw strength to make your life
a gift to brothers."
He continued, "From the
Cross springs joy and peace
of heart, which make us witnesses
of that hope of which we see
there is great need in these
times of widespread and generalized
economic crisis."
Commissioned
The Circle of St. Peter is a
charitable institution founded
in Rome in 1869 by the initiative
of a group of young people of
the city's nobility and high
bourgeoisie, who wished to make
a gesture of fidelity to the
Pope -- in response to the anti-clerical
attacks of the time -- through
the press and public gestures.
However, on receiving them for
the first time in audience,
Pope Pius IX entrusted to them,
as their first mission, charity
toward the poorest of Rome.
This was fulfilled, especially
during the difficult moments
of World War II, to the point
that for more than 100 years,
this charitable work is known
among Romans as "the Pope's
soup."
At present, the circle distributes
some 50,000 daily rations of
food to the poor as well as
giving hospitality to the homeless.
"For
to me life is Christ, and death
is gain." (Phil 1:21)