A Pastoral Letter by H.L. Mons. Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo, on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2010.
A society where Solidarity Resides
Despite the ever-widening communication networks, human beings can frequently find themselves living in isolation, surrounded by an anonymous crowd wherein their voice remains unheard and unanswered. This solitude is a new form of privation that goes on to increase the burden of poverty.
Three forms of Poverty
Very worrying is the recent report that 15% of our population is living at the risk of material poverty. There are those who are poor because they lack the means; there are also those, who because of limited means cannot even meet the financial demands of the basic necessities; then there are those who have the means, but their failure to manage them properly results in wastage.
There is affective poverty – that is, there are persons who are deprived of love. The persons who for one reason or another are leading a mortified existence are not few in number and at times they are made to swallow the bitter pill to the end. In this category fall those with marriage problems. There are the sons and daughters who have been robbed of the warmth and belonging of the family.
Yet another aspect of poverty is that of character. It is very easy for an ill-formed character to disrupt the network of relationships within the family, at the place of work, within the community and in other areas. Character building most frequently depends on the childhood formation or lack of it.
Why poverty?
One reason for all this poverty is the individualism that has been generated by a capitalist culture. This has led to the spread of anonymity, the growth of indifference and the increase in the number of those who feel lonely in the crowd! This indifference towards the suffering man is not only a personal sin but a lalcuna of the establishment, as institutions within a democratic society fail to line up to their duty! Unfortunately, besides individuals, nations too have assumed this attitude of indifference towards their neighbour!
Our answer:
solidarity Christ’s commandment of love is the answer to this challenge: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (Jn.13, 34). Love of neighbour translates into a spirit of solidarity. Christ was crystal clear: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt. 25, 40).
Contrary to the belief of many, solidarity is not a sentimental attitude or some form of allowance. Solidarity does not mean giving alms or the occasional charitable act! In his encyclical Caritas in Veritate Pope Benedict XVI exhorts us to put aside this fragmented notion of solidarity, a solidarity of fits and starts, a one off favour. We need to discover the social and political dimension of solidarity. There is a link between solidarity and justice: caring for our neighbour does not only mean conserving individual wellbeing, also safeguarding the common good. Solidarity is a virtue that expresses itself in a habitual and personal way of life. This means that such behaviour becomes part of the person’s character and is evident in all his daily actions. Solidarity is a disposition of the heart that binds all people together in such a way that no one feels driven to lose himself in the anonymous crowd. To shirk one’s responsibilities, even one;s social commitments, to choose anonymity, hiding behind a mask is a real temptation indeed!
A new attitude: moderation
The privileged high road for our consumerist society not to lose this spirit of solidarity, is sobriety or moderation. Consumption and excessive spending stifle the urge to care for a neighbour in need. Economic and financial decisions within the family and society should be taken with care and moderation. A temperate attitude helps towards a more equitable distribution of honestly acquired wealth. Sobriety is a means to curb squandering and promotes a more responsible use of resources. Every action of acquisition besides being an economic act is also a moral act: we are responsible for our actions before God and man.
Moderation besides being a personal value is also an institutional value! One notes with satisfaction the efforts of institutions to draw up plans so as available resources, especially public funds, are used in a just manner. Misuse of public funds, irrispective of the perpetrator, amounts to theft of people’s money.
I must acknowledge with gratitude the sense of solidarity of our people, of the voluntary organisations and charitable institutions which operate through public generosity. Above all I must commend those entrepreneurs who in the past months, putting their personal economic well-being at stake, chose to keep on their employees and thus ensuring a livelihood for the workers and their families. One truly appreciates the intervention of the State, and the contribution of the social partners in certain circumstances in order to safeguard jobs.
May this spirit of solidarity amongst us flourish and become more authentic.
Social Solidarity
Society must show solidarity with our young people, especially by providing them with productive work, both as a means of livelihood and a measure of dignity. This need is especially felt by youths in Gozo, who in the absence of a well-planned public and private investment, will still have to face the challenge of internal migration with all the hardships it carries.
Solidarity also means responsibility with regard to fiscal laws whereby each citizen is duly bound to contribute his dues so that the nation’s treasury can provide the means for those in need, especially those who are most vulnerable. Consequently, solidarity and tax evasion do not go together.
Solidarity in Education
We need to show more solidarity with our children by offering more educational opportunities that help them build a strong and healthy character. To attain this goal our educational system must encourage the teaching profession to adopt a person-centred rather than a subject-centred approach. At times, one gets the impression that we are more focused on academic achievement rather than holistic personality development. An important aspect of this educational process is the ethical and spiritual formation of the person.
Solidarity with families
We are aware of the plight of spouses and families who are encountering difficulties, which are threatening the stability of marriage and the unity of the family. Face to face with such dramatic situations, we must avoid any impulse for aversion or condemnation! Solidarity dictates that we offer remedies that are compatible with the nature of marriage and the family – healing processes that help couples in difficulty to attain stability rather than marriage break up! Our Diocesan Commission for the Family is performing sterling work to this end. The Diocese will soon be setting up the “Family Consultorium”. Couples who resort to this “clinic” may obtain a healing therapy rather than their death blow! Such an initiative demands of the Diocese substantial human and financial resources. I am sure that there are many who are ready to provide oxygen to those who are struggling for breath!
Environmental Solidarity
Now as never before we need to preserve our environment in solidarity with future generations. The capricious abuse of the environment stems from people’s egoism and greed and is leading to its destruction. Humanity is completely ignoring the right of future generations for a world befitting human dignity.
God’s solidarity with man
The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven confirms God’s solidarity with man. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3,16). First, Jesus Christ suffered and died in order to be like us in everything; then, having by his resurrection broken the chains of death, in a gracious act of solidarity, he gave us a share in his victory over our worst form of poverty: sin and death. The achievement of the Assunta is our achievement! This is for us a motive of joy spurring us to work together for a society where solidarity is truly cherished.
I impart on you my pastoral blessings.
+ Mario Grech Bishop of Gozo
Mgr Saviour Debrincat Chancellor