General Intention

Mentally Handicapped. That the mentally handicapped may not be marginalized, but respected and lovingly helped.

This month the Holy Father affirms the worth of people who are mentally handicapped. The developmentally disabled, as they are usually termed in the U.S., tend to be marginalized by society — that is, they are pushed aside, put away, and ignored. Their crime is that they happen to exhibit weakness of intellect. Sometimes the mental handicap is accompanied by delays in speech, social skills, and physical abilities. Some of the developmentally disabled lead independent lives in their communities. But many need help to live up to their potential. Some need constant care.

In 1964 French layman Jean Vanier noticed the plight of thousands institutionalized with developmental disabilities. Vanier invited two men to come live with him in his home. He named the home L'Arche, French for The Ark. Now there are 130 L'Arche households throughout the world.

Just what is the value of the mentally handicapped? Jean Vanier puts it this way: "The mentally handicapped … have time to look and think and marvel and love…. They are a sign, by their very being, that peace and joy … are not gained by work alone, and do not depend on wealth. Therefore, they utter a terrible warning; a warning that if men do not use their knowledge and ability to make the world more just, more brotherly, and to bridge the ever-widening gap between rich and poor, then this world will end in agony, strife, and fire."

May we join the Holy Father in praying that the mentally handicapped not be ignored or rejected, but that we might learn to respect the dignity of every human being.

Reflection

Do you know a person who is mentally handicapped? What might you do to affirm his or her dignity?

Scripture

Matthew 31:34-36 — "Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'"

Mission Intention

Institutes of Consecrated Life. That the Institutes of Consecrated Life in mission countries may rediscover the missionary dimension and generously proclaim Christ to the ends of the earth.

On February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the Church also celebrates World Day of Consecrated Life. This month the Holy Father asks us to pray that all priests, brothers, and sisters may generously proclaim Christ to the ends of the earth.

Speaking last year to the bishops of Latin America, Pope Benedict XVI said this: "Not a political ideology, not a social movement, not an economic system, but faith in the God who is Love — who took flesh, died and rose in Jesus Christ — is the authentic basis for this hope which has brought forth such a magnificent harvest from the time of the first evangelization until today."

The Pope constantly exhorts religious orders of the Church to remain true to the original mission of their founders, particularly in their devotion to the Gospel of Christ. "The disciple, founded on the rock of God's word, feels driven to bring the Good News of salvation to his brothers and sisters," the Pope told the bishops of Latin America. "When the disciple is in love with Christ, he cannot stop proclaiming to the world that only in him do we find salvation (Acts 4.12). In effect, the disciple knows that without Christ there is no light, no hope, no love, no future."

But nowhere does our Holy Father express this dynamic of personal faith and social service as beautifully as he does in his encyclical, God is Love: "Love of God and love of neighbor have become one; in the least of the brethren we find Jesus himself, and in Jesus we find God."

May all religious congregations, especially in mission lands, fearlessly witness to the Gospel.

Reflection

How does the Gospel contain the answers to the problems of developing mission countries?

Scripture

Mark 16:15-16 — "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized, will be saved."

Daily Offering Prayer

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

Prayer of the Month

O Father, we ask you to bless us,
and keep us in your love.
May L'Arche be a true home,
where the poor in Spirit may find life.
Lord, give us hearts that are open,
hearts that are humble and gentle,
so that we may welcome those you send,
with tenderness and compassion.

Lord, through the hands of your little ones,
we ask you to bless us.
Through the eyes of those who are rejected,
we ask you to smile on us.

Lord, on the day of your coming,
welcome all people into your Kingdom. Amen

(adapted from the L'Arche prayer)

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[Editor's Note: Apostleship of Prayer offers reflections and prayers for Pope Benedict XVI's monthly prayer intentions.]

General Intention

That the goods of the earth, given by God for all people, may be used wisely and in accordance with justice and solidarity.

Mission Intention

That governments of all nations may cooperate to fight diseases and epidemics in the Third World.

Daily Offering Prayer

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

Prayer of the Month

Father, You have given all peoples one common origin,
and Your will is to gather them as one family in Yourself.
Fill the hearts of all men with the fire of your love
and the desire to ensure justice for all their brothers and sisters.
By sharing the good things You give us
may we secure justice and equality for every human being,
an end to all division,
and a human society built on love and peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from Mass for the Progress of Peoples)

Just Distribution of Resources

Interpreting the Bible's Book of Genesis, the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms God's purpose in creation.

In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race (#2402).

Throughout history, humans have indeed sought to enjoy and to master earth's resources. But we have not always done so in ways that are sustainable and just. We have tended to seize, possess, exploit, and hoard the goods of creation. Our sin is both individual and corporate. The Church calls us to recognize that we have the power as well as the obligation to change our ways.

Man is himself the author, center, and goal of all economic and social life. The decisive point of the social question is that goods created by God for everyone should in fact reach everyone in accordance with justice and with the help of charity (#2459).

The Church challenges every economic system on earth. We speak of just distribution of resources, but too often it ends at that — self-satisfied words without action. We must always start with ourselves, but the Catechism states that our obligations to others are national as well as personal: 

Rich nations have a grave moral responsibility toward those which are unable to ensure the means of their development by themselves or have been prevented from doing so by tragic historical events. It is a duty in solidarity and charity; it is also an obligation in justice if the prosperity of the rich nations has come from resources that have not been paid for fairly (#2439).

Together we pray that we may have the wisdom and resolve as individuals, communities, and nations to care for and to share earth's resources with all who inhabit the earth.

For Reflection 

How are the world's resources unjustly distributed?  Why?

Scripture

God gives all creation to humanity (Genesis 1:26-31).
Make justice your aim (Isaiah 1:10-20).

Fight Against Diseases

Jesus healed the sick, especially those who were poor, and He asked His followers to do the same. Does His commandment mean anything to us today? 

Do poor people still suffer and die prematurely throughout the world? 

Yes, they do. Infectious illnesses account for the deaths of 17 million people each year, 90 percent of whom live in developing countries. Lacking access to common medicines, the poor in these countries become victims of many treatable, but untreated, diseases, including tuberculosis, malaria, smallpox, AIDS, dengue hemorrhagic fever, meningitis, and sleeping sickness.

Can the rich nations help the suffering poor of the Third World?  Yes, they could — but are not doing much. Every year researchers develop new drugs and treatment technologies to heal the sick, but the distribution of these resources is tragically disproportionate.

For example, the total cost of medicines throughout the world is between $50 and $60 billion annually. But only 0.02 percent of this sum goes to the treatment of respiratory ailments, tuberculosis, and diarrhea infections — those "diseases of the poor" that cause about 18 percent of the deaths around the world.

Acknowledging our Christian duty to help the neediest sick in the world, Pope Benedict XVI has continued Pope John Paul II's Good Samaritan Foundation. To date the foundation has assisted the sick in 11 countries in Africa, 1 in Asia, and 1 in Latin America. The Catholic Church serves 26.7 percent of the care centers for those with HIV/AIDS.

We understand our duty. We have begun to do it. We need to pray for the leaders of our world. May they enact policies to eradicate treatable diseases.

For Reflection

In what ways may we as individuals minister to the world's neediest sick?  How may we influence governments to do the same?

Scripture

Jesus heals the sick (Mark 6:55-56).
People gathered bringing the sick (Acts 5:12-16). 

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