05 SEPTEMBER- International day of charity
Endless love for each other
Established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 2012, it is celebrated on September 5 on the anniversary of the death in 1997 of St. Teresa of Calcutta (Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1979), founder of the Missionaries of Charity.
Hymn to Charity (First Letter to the Corinthians)
of St. Paul of Tarsus
If I spoke the tongues of men and angels,
but I did not have charity,
I would be like bronze that rumbles or like cymbal that resounds.
And if I had the gift of prophecy,
if I knew all the mysteries and had all the knowledge,
if I possessed enough faith to carry the mountains,
but I did not have charity,
I would be nothing.
And even if I gave in food all my goods
and hand over my body for pride,
but I did not have charity,
nothing would be of use to me.
Charity is magnanimous,
benevolent is charity;
it is not envious, it is not boastful,
does not swell with pride, 5 does not disrespect,
does not seek its own interest, does not get angry,
does not take into account the evil received,
6 does not enjoy injustice
but rejoices in the truth.
Everything excuses, everything believes,
everything hopes, everything endures.
Charity will never end.
The prophecies will disappear,
the gift of languages will cease and knowledge will fade.
In fact, in an imperfect way we know
and in an imperfect way we prophesy.
But when what is perfect will come, what is imperfect will disappear.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child,
I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child.
Became a man, I eliminated what is as a child.
Now we see in a confused way, like in a mirror;
then instead we will see face to face.
Now I know imperfectly, but then I will know perfectly,
as I am also known.
Now then these three things remain: faith, hope and charity.
But the greatest of all is charity!
The only extremism allowed for a believer is charity.
(Pope Francis)
In the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development adopted by the UN in September 2015, it is recognized that the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and a prerequisite for sustainable development.
This is precisely the path opened, in contemporary times, by St. Teresa of Calcutta for her charitable practices: the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 was awarded to her “for her work in the struggle to overcome poverty and hardship, which are also a threat to peace”.
