By Matters India Reporter

Rome: The head of Claretian missionaries has urged his men spread all over the world to share their spiritual and material gifts with the poor.

“Do some concrete signs for affirming the value of the persons living in various forms of poverty,” said Father Mathew Vattamattam, superior general of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in his message on the occasion of the first World Day of the Poor on November 19 declared by Pope Francis.

“Claretians have to show solidarity with the Pope and the Church to turn to the poor around. We can joyfully share with others from the spiritual and material gifts we have received from God,” he added.

Manh Claretians in the mission are for the poor and among the poor, he noted. “Our lifestyle, attitude to the poor and way of administering what we have been impelled by God’s love for the poor. I propose some steps for our personal and community reflection and action on the World Day of the Poor,” he suggested.

Read and reflect the message of the Pope for the World Day of the Poor. Choose a moment of prayer or community meeting to have an introspection and evaluation of the attitudes, lifestyle and presence among the poor around us in the light of the values affirmed in these documents, the superior general suggested.

“Let us commend our brothers and sisters who are bereft of a dignified life in society to the Heart of our Mother and listen to her invitation, ‘Do whatever he tells you’(Jn 2:5),” Father Vattamattam said.

In a message last June, Pope Francis urged the whole Church, and men and women of good will everywhere, to turn their gaze on this day to all those who stretch out their hands and plead for help and solidarity. This Day is meant to encourage believers to react against a culture of discard and waste and to embrace the culture of encounter.

At the same time, everyone, independent of religious affiliation, is invited to openness and sharing with the poor through concrete signs of solidarity and fraternity.