Identification with the Poor
I would like to become food to satisfy the hungry, clothes to cover the naked, drink to refresh the thirsty, tonic to strengthen the stomach of the weak, … medicine and health to cure the infirmities of the crippled, the mutilated, the deaf and the dumb. (OOCC, X, p. 115; STA, 176)
St. Vincent Pallotti felt within himself “the sense of being without” or “the sense of not having anything” which the poor and the downtrodden experienced in their daily life. He felt within himself their hunger, their thirst, their nakedness, their being crippled, mutilated, deaf and dumb. Even as a youth, St. Vincent developed a compassionate heart for the poor. He saw in them the image of God that is distorted by poverty, pain and anguish. He wished to restore the pristine beauty of the image of God in them, not only in the spiritual sphere, but also in the material realm. He wished that every human person lived a life worthy of his status as the image of God, both in the spiritual and material aspects of his life. As a result, he not only wanted to give them something to satisfy their needs, but rather he himself wanted to become their food, drink, clothing and medicine. St. Vincent completely identified himself with the less privileged people of his time. This identification with the poor made him visualize and execute the mission of universal charity, calling people of every status within the Church to cooperate in this mission. He believed that each one could be a partner in this project of helping the poor, in his/her own little way. He reminded all who cooperated with him in this project that what they do for these little ones, they do for Jesus.
Do I feel within myself the pain and anguish of the poor and the needy? Do I see poverty, hunger and all other social evils as distortions of the image of God in the human person? What can I do in the concrete situation of my life to implement the mission of universal charity? Do I realize that what I do for these little ones, I do for Jesus?
Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do it unto me. (Mt. 25:40)