Dear Participants,

While welcoming the strange is probably among the most difficult work of Mercy to perform, as it implies trusting the other with our resources, our safety, sometimes our own home, let us take heart and dive into the Word for encouragement.

Today, we are focusing on the following work of Mercy: to shelter the homeless

From the Old Testament:

"When an alien resides with you in your land, do not mistreat such a one. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the Lord, am your God." Leviticus 19, 33-34

From the New Testament:

" As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going, they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you." " Luke 17, 11-19

From the Saints' life:

John Henry Newman: J.H Newman is considered the 19th century's most important English-speaking Roman Catholic theologian. He was a transfer from the Anglican church, in which he spent the first half of his life. Historical research convinced Newman that the Catholic Church was in closest continuity with the Church established by Jesus. He was certainly a stranger by many aspects, not always understood or appreciated. However, he steadfastly preached the Gospel by word and example, and his writing on conscience, religious freedom, Scripture, the vocation of lay people, the relation of Church and State and other topics were tremendously influential in the shaping of the Vatican II Council's documents, hence his nickname of "the absent Father of Vatican II". 

Edith Stein: Edith Stein was born in a Jewish Orthodox family. She was a brilliant student, fascinated by philosophy. An encounter with the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila caused her swift conversion in 1922. This decision changed her life profoundly, as she renounced her academical career, and chose to teach at a girls' school. In 1932, she entered the Discalced Carmelite Order and took the name of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. In 1942, in retaliation for the condemnation of Nazi anti-semitism by the Dutch bishops of occupied Holland, order was given to arrest all non-Aryan Roman Catholics. With her sister Rosa, also a convert, Edith was captured by the Gestapo and deported to Auschwitz, where she died in the gas chamber. Survivors of the death camp testified that she helped the prisoners with great compassion and love. Edith was probably considered a stranger by some from her Jewish community since she became Catholic. A few Catholics plausibly viewed her as a stranger as well, referring to her Jewish roots. But Edith Stein considered herself as a link between the two faith, which she regarded as a continuum. 

Chiara Luce Badano: Chiara was an average Italian girl, who liked to play tennis and sing. She attended Mass regularly and tried to live the Gospel. For instance, she showed interested in a strange, marginal woman in her village, who was despised by many. That woman, whom Chiara called "Madam Maria", never went to church. But Chiara was always kind to her, and often helped her carry her heavy packs. At the age of 17, Chiara started feeling a sharp pain in her shoulder, which turned out to be aggressive bone cancer. She offered all her suffering to Jesus, refusing pain relief so that she could remain lucid. Paralyzed in her bed, she kept loving. After two years of agony, Chiara died at the age of 19, "happy to see Jesus." When Madam Maria learned about Chiara's death, she started going to church. The marginal woman dressed elegantly, participated in the service, and once gave the enormous sum of 50,000 liras at the collection.