True charity is the means by which the Catholic Church built western civilization. Hospitals, universities, monasteries, churches, libraries, laboratories, infrastructure were all borne from true charity.
But now the world chooses the slavery of Marxism, which makes the state the sole administrator of “charity”. Since the state possesses no wealth of its own, it must forcibly confiscate half the slaves’ wealth (or more, depending on the country). As the state assumes control of a diverse range of institutions, notably education, the process of societal lobotomization can begin. The slaves really truly believe that a state with no wealth can provide stuff for “free.” Once all the mechanisms are in place and the slaves resigned to ever more labor for ever less reward, so long as they’re permitted their Game of Thrones and football, the only thing left for the Leftists is to see how far they can take it (this includes all areas of morality).
The Church, itself thoroughly infiltrated, also has to get in on the game, because the Church survives no longer on true charity alone, but also forced redistribution, which flows through the state.
So the next time Antipope Bergoglio (or anyone who comes in his name -nvp ’25) abuses the poor, by using them to advance his agenda of redistributive criminality, remember this:
August 10.—ST. LAURENCE, Martyr.
ST. LAURENCE was the chief among the seven deacons of the
Roman Church. In the year 258 Pope Sixtus was led out to
die, and St. Laurence stood by, weeping that he could not
share his fate. “I was your minister,” he said, “when you consecrated
the blood of Our Lord; why do you leave me behind
now that you are about to shed your own?” The holy Pope
comforted him with the words, “Do not weep, my son; in
three days you will follow me.” This prophecy came true. The
prefect of the city knew the rich offerings which the Christians
put into the hands of the clergy, and he demanded the treasures
of the Roman Church from Laurence, their guardian. The
Saint promised, at the end of three days, to show him riches
exceeding all the wealth of the empire, and set about collecting
the poor, the infirm, and the religious who lived by the
alms of the faithful. He then bade the prefect “see the treasures
of the Church” Christ, whom Laurence had served in his
poor, gave him strength in the conflict which ensued. Roasted
over a slow fire, he made sport of his pains. “I am done
enough,” he said, “eat, if you will.” At length Christ, the Father
of the poor, received him into eternal habitations. God
showed by the glory which shone around St. Laurence the
value He set upon his love for the poor. Prayers innumerable
were granted at his tomb; and he continued from his throne in
heaven his charity to those in need, granting them, as St.
Augustine says, “the smaller graces which they sought, and
leading them to the desire of better gifts”
Reflection.—Our Lord appears before us in the persons of the
poor. Charity to them is a great sign of predestination. It is
almost impossible, the holy Fathers assure us, for any one
who is charitable to the poor for Christ’s sake to perish.
–Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed.
[1894], at sacred-texts.com
Indeed. Marxism is enslavement which is, rape & kill your neighbor. Free enterprise under fair rule of law, is love your neighbor. Charity, like redemption & repentance, comes by each new person’s free will or else it is nothing, a fake. Socialist “liberation” is diabolical malice.
If taxpayers decide to give welfare with their taxes to certain people, why is this a problem?
Still theft, force & fraud. You vote for government to seize it from your neighbor who didn’t agree to it – and to small avail, as most of it is eaten by bureaucrats, not to mention cheaters.
Rather than choosing from your heart to give of your own, and only your own, morally as should be.
My back surgery cost 200,000 dollars. Medicaid paid for it. I paid into Medicaid with taxes. I would be paralyzed if I didn’t get the surgery. I’m happy it’s available. No Catholic charity could do that for me.
All good things come from God.
You’re “happy” (your word) with it – and that makes it good & from God? I think there’s a name for that heresy.
To keep it civil, we could BEGIN merely by asking why it should cost $200,000. Right there, a lot is wrong. That alone. How did that sorry state come about, to begin with. (hint: Big Government & cronyism – Caesar gone wild, taking what is his, *and then some* for corporate lobbies who support him). Then move on to why Catholic Charities, Inc. is no help & only helps illegal immigrants be illegal.
I’m happy I am not paralyzed, yes. In Christian charity, if you actually believe in that, you should be too.
The fact someone was injured and got better is objectively a good thing. And I give credit to God for that.
Third, it’s completely irrelevant to this discussion why Healthcare is so expensive. I will say it was a 10 hour surgery with 2 doctors and dozens of bolts, screws and plates. Not to mention the nurses and anesthesia.
The fact is I got better. I can walk. Doing so allowed me to take care of my father.
The real heresy is saying something patently good, me or anyone getting medically healed, is not good because it wasn’t performed by the Catholic Church.
I know you have insurance, and most likely it is not with the Church. I know when you have enough food to eat, that didn’t come from the Church either.
All good things come from God.
Exactly right and well-stated! 👍🏻👏