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S/O Prayers to Mary & the Homeless

ootmother2ootmother2 member
Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
in Catholic Weddings
Everyone knows that there's a huge problem with the homeless and I believe big cities see somewhat more of it than smaller towns.

A couple of weeks ago, as I was leaving Mass (7:30 PM, "last show in town") there was a man quite aggressively approaching people leaving the church for "money to feed his kids".  This church alternates with others in the area having meals for the less fortunate so there's always one within walking distance but it was not my church's night for meals.

I asked my pastor what is the right thing to do for them, other than cooking at the shelters and giving to organizations to help them.  I'm very leery about just giving them cash as I  don't know that they will actually use it for food, for themselves or their families.

He told me that when I see someone less fortunate, someone crippled, too old to be out walking in the city, or just a beggar, to say a Hail Mary for them.

I swear there are days that I probably say an entire rosary just by going to midtown!

But I do it and hope that Mary can intercede for them.  I don't view this as worshiping Mary, just asking for a bit of a boost with her Son.

WDYD?
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Re: S/O Prayers to Mary & the Homeless

  • GeorgiaPeachMarieGeorgiaPeachMarie
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I asked a priest about this once. He told me that it isn't my responsibility to money manage for someone, but it is my responsibility to give to the people that Christ came to save. He told me that God will never judge me for giving money to a homeless person who bought drugs, but he will judge me for not being generous and have charity in my heart. He warned me that Christ could very well be that homeless person. Although the spiritual gifts are just as rewarding and something to consider as well.
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  • monkeysipmonkeysip member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    edited December 2011
    Good issue to bring up, oot.  I think about this a lot too.

    I have lots of homeless people around my university's campus.  Honestly, I almost never have cash.  When I do have dollars, I tuck them in my glove box for when I see homeless people.  I agree with Georgia that it isn't really my place to judge where they will use the money, although I think that is to a certain degree.

    I remember walking around downtown with a good friend of mine.  She's such a saint, she puts me to shame all the time.  She used to volunteer as an outreach person to the male prostitutes in a certain part of our town.  She used to go out at 2, 3 am and talk to them and tell them about the charity she worked for where they could get meals and shelter.  We came across a man that she was positive was a male prostitute who needed more drugs.  Her heart went out to him, but she didn't give him money.  Instead, she offered to pray for him, and he actually accepted the offer kindly.  I think her actions were right in that situation, but I generally don't assume that every homeless person is just a druggie.

    I also remember that we had a family that would stand outside the parish asking for money after mass.  Sometimes the dad, sometimes mom, sometimes kids.  But our parish is in a very affluent neighborhood in the suburbs.  Our priest told us that he had already approached them and told them to talk to the parish's ministry that helps pay for food and rent for the disadvantaged residents of the area.  But the family refused, and just kept begging for money.  It's awful, and I feel bad for them, but that's another situation where giving the people money may not be prudent.  

    I have offered meals to homeless on many occasions, and most of them take it.  But once in a while they won't, and there's just nothing you can do.

    It breaks my heart because Houston is not a good city for the homeless.  It's illegal to be homeless, and the public services aren't very good.  Fortunately, there are a few really good charities for the homeless, one of which I used to volunteer for.  But they can't help everyone, or really, even most of the homeless in our city.

    Either way, I'm sure the hail mary is always a good thing when you see one.

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