The 8th World Day of the Poor, will be observed on Sunday, November 17th,2024. This day was established by Pope Francis in 2017 and it is celebrated annually on the 33rd Sunday in November.
The purpose of this day is to encourage Catholics and people of goodwill to reflect on the needs of the poor, to encounter those living in poverty and to find ways to provide practical support. It aligns with the Pope’s broader focus on promoting social justice and compassionate outreach to the marginalised. The theme for this year is dedicated to prayer,” The prayer of the poor rises up to God”(Sirah 21:5)
The theme revolves around the Christian hope that our prayers reach God’s presence, not just as any prayer but rather the prayer of the poor and can become a path of communion with them and a sharing in their suffering. No one is excluded from God’s heart for in His eyes, we are all poor and needy. Pope Francis goes on to note that unfortunately the mentality that governs the world today asks of us that we become Somebody and make a name for ourselves,” at any cost”. But Pope Francis warns, Happiness cannot be acquired by trampling on the rights and dignity of others.
The violence caused by wars clearly shows the arrogance of those who consider themselves to be powerful before men and women, but the truth is that “they are poor in the eyes of God.” How many people are impoverished by misguided policies involving weapons! How many innocent victims! Yet we cannot turn our backs to this reality. As we think of these horrific realities in this year dedicated to prayer, we need to make the prayer of the poor our own and pray together with them, says the Pope. There can be no charity without prayer. If prayer does not translate into concrete action, it is in vain, indeed, faith by itself, if it has no works is dead. However charity without prayer risks becoming philanthropy that soon exhausts itself. Without daily prayer, lived with fidelity, our acts are empty, they lose their profound soul and are reduced to being mere activism-Benedict XVII.
It is beautiful to recall the testimony left to us by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a woman who gave her life for the poor. Saint Teresa continually repeated that it was from prayer that she drew the strength and faith for her mission of service to the least among us. When she spoke at the General Assembly of the UN on October 26th ,1965,showing everyone the Rosary she always held in her hand, she said,” I am only a poor Sister who prays. By praying, Jesus puts His love in my heart, and I give it to all the poor I meet along the way. Pray too! Pray and you will notice the person who is beside you. Perhaps on the same floor in your apartment building. Perhaps even in your houses, someone is waiting for your love. Pray and your eyes will open and your heart will fill with love”.
We are called in every circumstance to be friends of the poor, following in the footsteps of Jesus who always began by showing solidarity when dealing with the least among us.
May the Mother of God, Mary most Holy, who appeared at Bameux and left a message,” I am the Virgin of the Poor”, sustain us on this journey. To Mary, whom God has looked upon with favour for her humble poverty, accomplishing great things through her obedience, we entrust our prayers, convinced that they will rise to heaven and be heard.
As we journey towards the Holy Year, the Pope urges everyone to become pilgrims of hope, setting tangible goals for a better future. In this time, when the song of hope seems to give way to the clamour of arms ,to the cry of many innocent wounded and the silence of countless victims of wars, we turn to God with our plea for peace. We stretch out our hands to receive Peace as a precious gift for we are “poor” in this regard, while at the same time committing ourselves to weave it back into daily life.
Mary Pinheiro