Relief of the Poor-Limits of Prudence

A quote from M. Clare Moore early Sister of Mercy, contemporary of Catherine McAuley:

"Catherine's 'spirit of mercy made her adopt plans for the relief of the poor which to some appeared beyond the limits of prudence.'"

Today as we face another step in the massive cleanup of our city, we are in the dilemma of what will people do and where will people live. The shelters are stretched to the limits, people are getting restless and children are getting tired of being cooped up. The relief of the poor,the displaced, the homeless are constantly on my mind as I prepare to move to another place as we close our House of Welcome.

What should I keep? What is usable for someone else? What is just junk? All these things are pressing on me as I begin to pack. The poor do not want ragged discards. What do I have in my possession that is of value to someone else? These are things I ponder today.

Catherine had a passion for the poor, even using up her vast fortune to help them, leaving her own sisters in a literal poverty. There were so many poor! There was so little help! There was such passion!

What about you? Could your closet stand a good cleaning? Do you have more than 2 of anything? Could you find a way to get it to the poor?

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