World Day of the Poor
Sunday, November 13, is the World Day of the Poor, a day established by Pope Francis in 2017 for Catholics to "reflect on how poverty is at the very heart of the Gospel." The theme for 2022 is "For your sakes, Christ became poor" (2 Cor 8:9).
"Where the poor are concerned, it is not talk that matters; what matters is rolling up our sleeves and putting our faith into practice through a direct involvement, one that cannot be delegated. At times, however, a kind of laxity can creep in and lead to inconsistent behavior, including indifference about the poor. It also happens that some Christians, out of excessive attachment to money, remain mired in a poor use of their goods and wealth. We know that the issue is not money itself, for money is part of our daily life as individuals and our relationships in society. Rather, what we need to consider is the value that we put on money: it cannot become our absolute and chief purpose in life," Pope Francis said in his World Day of the Poor message.
After the Year of Mercy, the pope said he wanted to set aside a day so that, throughout the world, Christian communities could become even greater signs of Christ's charity for those in need. We are called, Pope Francis wrote in his first World Day of the Poor message, "to draw near to the poor, to encounter them, to meet their gaze, to embrace them, and to let them feel the warmth of love that breaks through their solitude. Their outstretched hand is also an invitation to step out of our certainties and comforts, and to acknowledge the value of poverty in itself."
The pope said that for Christ's disciples, "poverty is, above all, a call to follow Jesus in his own poverty," and he asked Catholics to take as their example Saint Francis of Assisi, who kept his gaze fixed on Christ, allowing him to see and serve the poor.
How you can help
- Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
- Put Your Faith into Action at Catholic Charities Maine
- Support a Food Pantry or Soup Kitchen at Your parish or in Your Community
- Support the Work of Catholic Relief Services
- Support the Ministries of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the official missionary arm of the Catholic Church
Messages
- Pope Francis's World Day of the Poor 2022 Message
- Pope Francis' World Day of the Poor Messages (2017-2022)
- Bishop Deeley's Letter initiating the Celebration in the Diocese of Portland - 2017
