In Father Donald Haggerty’s second book on contemplative prayer called “The Contemplative Hunger,” published by Ignatius Press, he talks about the connection between the development of contemplative prayer and love for the poor.
For those who study the lives of the saints, this is not a surprise, for they all share two common characteristics – the love for contemplative prayer and of the poor. Each one of these leads to each other without a distinct border. Contemplative prayer leads to communion with God and His presence in the poor, while contact with the needy leads to communion with God Who is present in them in a special way.
In the beginning of the chapter entitled “The Contemplative and the Poor,” he states, “The mysterious presence of the Lord in the poor man draws the beginnings of a hunger in the soul that is not realized at first but soon becomes evident. It is an initial encounter, as the Eucharist itself is, with the sacred mystery of God’s presence.”
Over the years at Catholic Social Services, I have seen this play out in our staff, volunteers and our benefactors. Many of them have either become interested in helping the poor after developing serious prayer lives or have developed serious prayer lives after having developed a love for needy individuals and families.
And no surprise to me, a common thread is an intense love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. There is an inseparable link between a genuine love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to His special presence in the destitute.
Father Haggerty goes on the say, “Holiness may never, in fact, permit exception to the demand for some form of personal contact with the poor.”
Those who are used to helping the poor know that the demands of charity are sometimes inconvenient. We are often interrupted. Father Haggerty goes on to say that those who have regular contact with the poor and needy sometimes feel our Lord saying during an encounter with a person in crisis, “I am here!”
Just before Easter, I found myself in a hurry for a meeting and encountered, in our parking lot, a family with small children in their car who had recently moved to Lincoln from a state over a thousand miles away. They were fortunate to have found employment, but were days away from their first paychecks. They were in desperate need of a tank of gas. I knew I had to drop everything and drive to a nearby gas station and purchase for them a tank of gas. As a priest, I encouraged them to get to church on Easter. They drove away grateful.
During this Easter Season, please consider helping us spiritually by praying for our mission of loving Jesus in the poor and needy across southern Nebraska, materially by donating items around your home or farm not needed, and financially with a cash donation according to your means so we can continue to help those who come to us in need. If you feel the Holy Spirit inspiring you to help us as a volunteer, please contact us.
Please know that you, your family and intentions are in our prayers!
