佚名/Anonymous
The poor are very wonderful people.One evening we went out and we p icked up four people from the street.And one of them was in a most terr ible condition,and I told the sisters:You take care of the other three.I take care of this one who looked worse.So I did for her all that my love can do.I put her in bed,and there was such a beautiful smile on h er face.She took hold of my hand as she said just the words "thank you" and she died.I could not help but examine my conscience before her and I asked what would I say if I was in her place.And my answer was very s imple.I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself.I would have said I am hungry,that I am dying,I am cold,I am in pain,or some thing,but she gave me much more-she gave me her grateful love.And she died with a smile on her face.As did that man whom we picked up from th e drain,half eaten with worms,and we brought him to the home."I have rived like an animal in the street,but I am going to die like an angel,loved and cared for." And it was so wonderful to see the greatness of th at man who could speak like that,who could die like that without blamin g anybody,without cursing anybody,without comparing anything.Like an angel-this is the greatness of our people.And that is why we believe w hat Jesus had said:I was hungry,I was naked,I was homeless,I was unw anted,unloved,uncared for,and you did it to me.
I believe that we are not real social workers.We may be doing socia l work in the eyes of the people,but we are really contemplatives in th e heart of the world.For we are touching the body of Christ twenty-four hours And I think that in our family we don't need bombs and guns,to destroy,to bring peace,just get together,love one another,bring that peace,that joy,that strength of presence of each other in the home.An d we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world.
And with this prize that I have received as a Prize of Peace,I am g oing to try to make the home for many people who have no home.Because I believe that love begins at home,and if we can create a home for the po or I think that more and more love will spread.And we will be able thro ugh this understanding love to bring peace be the good news to the poor.The poor in our own family first,in our country and in the world.To be able to do this,our Sisters,our lives have to be woven with prayer.Th ey have to be woven with Christ to be able to understand,to be able to share.Because to be woven with Christ is to be able to understand,to b e able to share.Because today there is so much suffering...And When I p ick up a person from the street,hungry,I give him a plate of rice,a p iece of bread,I have satisfied.I have removed that hunger.But a perso n who is shut out,who feels unwanted,unloved,terrified,the person wh o has been thrown out from society-that poverty is so full of hurt and so unbearable...And so let us always meet each other with a smile,for t he smile is the beginning of love,and once we begin to love each other naturally we want to do something.