Weavers of compassion and reconciliation in global solidarity. Supporting Document on COMPASSION:

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1 Weavers of compassion and reconciliation in global solidarity To act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8) Supporting Document on COMPASSION: Definitions: Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English compassion noun sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. ORIGIN Latin, from compati suffer with. Free Dictionary: com pas sion n. Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. See Synonyms at pity. [Middle English compassioun, from Late Latin compassi, compassi n-, from compassus, past participle of compat, to sympathize : Latin com-, com- + Latin pat, to suffer; see p (i)- in Indo-European roots.] Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary: compassion noun [U] APPROVING a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a desire to help them: Meriam Webster online: com pas sion : noun; Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin compassion-, compassio, from compati to sympathize, from Latin com- + pati to bear, suffer more at PATIENT Date: 14th century : sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it Catechism of the Catholic Church on Compassion Christ's compassion : 1503, 1506, 2448, 2571, 2575, Christ's compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a resplendent sign that "God has visited his people" 104 and that the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Jesus has the power not only to heal, but also to forgive sins; 105 he has come to heal the whole man, soul and body; he is the physician the sick have need of. 106 His compassion toward all who suffer goes so far that he identifies himself with them: "I was sick and you visited me." 107 His preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of tireless efforts to comfort them. 1

2 Scripture Texts: Old and New Testament on COMPASSION New International Version Exodus 22:27 Exodus 33:19 Exodus 34:6 Deuteronomy 13:17 Deuteronomy 28 :54 Deuteronomy 30:3 Deuteronomy 32:36 1 Samuel 23:21 2 Samuel 12:6 Judges 2:18 1 Kings 3:26 2 Kings 13:23 2 Chronicles 30:9 Nehemiah 9:19, 27, 28, 31, Psalm 51:3 Psalm 77:9 Psalm 86:15 Psalm 90:13 Psalm 102:13 Psalm 103:4, 8, 13 Psalm 106:46 Psalm 111:4 Psalm 112:4 Psalm 116:5 Psalm 119:77, 156 Psalms 135:14 Psalm 145:8, 9 Isaiah 13:18 Isaiah 14:1 Isaiah 27:11 Isaiah 30:18 Isaiah 49:10, 13, 15 Isaiah 51:3 Isaiah 54:7, 8, 10 Isaiah 60:10 Isaiah 63:15 Jeremiah 12:15 Jeremiah 13:14 Jeremiah 15:6 Jeremiah 21:7 Jeremiah 30:18 Jeremiah 31:20 Jeremiah 33:26 Jeremiah 42:12 Lamentations 3:22, 32 Lamentations 4:10 Ezekiel 9:5 Ezekiel 16:5 Ezekiel 39:25 Hosea 2:4, 19, 23 Hosea 11:8 Hosea 13:14 Hosea 14:3, 4 Joel 2:13 Amos 1:11 Jonah 3:10 Jonah 4:1 Jonah 4:2 Micah 7:19 Zechariah 1:16 Zechariah 7:9 Zechariah 10:6 Malachi 3:17 Matthew 9:13, 36 Matthew 12:7 Matthew 14:14 Matthew 15:32 Matthew 20:34 Mark 1:41 Mark 6:34 Mark 8:2 Luke 15:20 Romans 9:15 2 Corinthians 1:3 Ephesians 4:32 Philippians 2:1 Colossians 3:12 James 5:11 1 Peter 3:8 2

3 Quotes from ST. MARY EUPHRASIA on COMPASSION CONFERENCES (1992 edition) CHAPTER 4 It happened that a kindly person met this poor child and, seeing her miserable condition; she had compassion on her and brought her here. That is typical of Our Lady's protection, she whose mercy is so wonderful even towards sinners who scarcely know her. p. 36 I saw that all compassion to one's neighbor, exercised in love, is a mark of God's indwelling. (Cf. Julian of Norwich) p. 37 CHAPTER 8 Jesus - our Healer! 4. Scripture tells us, "He went about doing good." Every step of our adorable Saviour was marked by some wonderful act of charity. The lepers in the Gospel had only to say with faith and humility, "Lord, if you will, you can heal me," (Mt. 8:2) and his leprosy was instantly cured. He didn't say long prayers. One word from this unfortunate man was enough to rouse our Lord's compassion. "Lord, if you will you can make me clean" and immediately his leprosy was cured. So how confident we should be when we have the high honour of possessing within us this divine Doctor of souls, this Master of every good. Oh, in that moment, speak to Him of your poverty, your sickness. Ask Him to heal you. "The just sin often." (Pr. 24: ) according to the sage. So what must it be for us, so weak and fickle in doing good? Our imperfections, our everyday faults cause a kind of leprosy in our souls, and that is why we have constant need to turn to our Lord to be healed and purified. Never be afraid of going to Him - He himself invites you. p. 81 CHAPTER 25 By your fervour you can co-operate in saving souls. 2. Our dear girls feel the sacrifices of these days devoted to fast and mortification. Be patient with them to gain them for our Lord. While in the world they probably never experienced the battles they have here. It is quite certain that the evil spirit torments them precisely because they want to change for the better, To fast and keep silence they must do themselves indescribable violence. Have compassion on them. These poor girls, slaves to their passions, hope for their deliverance because of your prayers and mortifications, for, says the Lord: "There is a kind of demon that can only be cast out by prayer and fasting." (Mk. 9:29) Oh, how these words should encourage us to spend Lent well! By your fervour you can cooperate in the salvation of so many souls! These are days of salvation and blessing, and the time, when works worth most for the glory of God, are usually conceived in the Congregation. p. 219 CHAPTER 43 Finally, dear daughters, to get back to the sick of body or soul. Let us always be gentle and compassionate, having pity on, rather than condemning, others. Let us love our Sisters and be full of charity for the penitents. p

4 CHAPTER 59 Here is my servant... a bruised reed lie will not break, a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. (Is. 42:3) 1. Much will be asked of those who have received much. I keep coming back to my key topic, our holy vocation which we must love deeply, and our fourth vow - our glory and our protection. Because of it all our actions acquire priceless merit, and you must make a habit of referring to it everything good that you do, as to the supreme objective. This vow implies great purity, for people should see the highest virtues shining in us, for each of us has been called to be a light to souls. You must be both guides and mothers to our penitents. They should find in you comfort in their troubles and a cure for their ills. The more our penitents are spiritually sick, the more interest we should take in them; and the more they tend to fall, the more compassion must we have for them. So let us try to support the broken reed and keep alight the wavering flame. If we are harsh towards these souls, whom God has already touched with his grace, we must fear that he will leave us to our own resources as a punishment for our rashness and pride. The words of St. Augustine are worth thinking about: "There is no sin, however great, which others commit, that we are not capable of, if God did not sustain us by his grace." The seed of all sins is in us. If the compassionate eyes of the Lord were not ever upon us the storm of our bad inclinations would blind us and we should fall victim to them. How truly the Apostle Paul said: "I chastise my body and bring it under control, for fear that, having preached to others, I myself might be condemned." (I Cor. 9:27 I set before you life and death; now choose life... that you may love the Lord your God. (Dent. 30:19) 2. St. Mary Magdalen sinned much. One could, however, believe, that in the eyes of God, she was less to blame than many indifferent Christians today, because she had not yet been enlightened by the Gospel truths. What an account we shall have to give for the many great graces we have received! In the same way more will be asked of our children, who have had the happiness of being baptised in infancy, who were instructed in the Faith and received the Sacraments and who then rebelled against God, than of those who never received those helps. The first are much more culpable than Mary Magdalen. What zeal we shall need to obtain their conversion! We must never think or say that having sinned, our girls should be ready to suffer without complaining. Oh, my dear daughters, that is not what our Lord teaches us by his way of treating sinners. Once we had among the penitents, a young person who filled me with a compassion I could not describe. Always silent, always bathed in tears, she could find no consolation, haunted by the thought of having offended God. I used to say to her; "Your must trust in the boundless mercy of God." "Oh, Mother". she replied, "I feel I shall die like this and only then will my grief at having offended my Saviour cease." In fact, she did not live long, and left her companions the memory and example of a sincere conversion and perfect contrition. p

5 CHAPTER Have compassion for these dear girls. They must do great violence to themselves; with many passions to overcome, can you imagine that it is easy for them to obey, to keep silence and to work all day! p. 450 CHAPTER 63 Oh, my dear daughters, how much charity and compassion we must have for these souls that Holy Church has put into our care, in the name of the Divine Shepherd and of their tender mother, the Blessed Virgin. Love them, yes, love them very much! Comfort them, strengthen these suffering sheep, make them very happy with the grace of God, that is your duty. Never forget that you will only draw hearts to our Lord by love. p. 466 LETTERS vol. 1 and 2 Letter 8, vol. 1, p. 21 My soul was moved with compassion, for God knows how dear you are to us; the four of you have fought the good fight, and remained faithful in the fire of tribulation. Letter 40, vol. 1, p O God, dear Sister, let us be compassionate toward our poor St. Helene who is suffering and is tempted. Being a good religious; perhaps she may be strong enough to resist. In the meantime, think it over; if you are too anxious about her, she could come back and be replaced. You may remember, my dearest sister, how my heart suffered on her account. Letter 55, vol. 1, p. 130 My own heart is moved with compassion at the thought of all that you have endured; oh yes, my daughter, as you say, it is a bitter sacrifice, you are our cherished Xaviers. Letter 83, vol. p. 197 You did well to receive your brother with kindness; he is a young man who went astray. Do not invite him to Grenoble; nevertheless you ought to have offered him something to eat. You must pray for him; he deserves compassion. Letter 135 vol. 1, p. 309 In the midst of crosses, great graces abound. M. Perché was surely a prophet in saying that the most implacable foe of the Work would be M. Moreau. Never could I have believed the human heart capable of such treachery, alas, against veritable lambs for we say not a word and, though treated most outrageously, we live in such peace and regularity that Calvary is not without its charms. Having compassion on our weakness, God sometimes leads us to Mount Tabor, where these days our hearts are gladdened, my dear daughter, as we see the miracles being wrought at Metz. Our sisters have been received there as if they were angels coming down 5

6 from heaven. The bishop has showered benefits on them and has willingly promised his backing for Rome. Letter 312, vol. 2, p Ah, my daughter, in spite of our crosses, we must admit that the foundation is making progress! Courage once more, I beg you. One could say that God alone is your strength and your guide, since you haven t even got a confessor. O God, what a Country! God, I hope will draw glory from it. As for Father Marguet, it is unbelievable. What compassion! However, my dear daughters, FOR GOD ALONE! Well, we also have troubles; we are wholly occupied with Mans, with our poor Sisters. We believe that some of them are truly on Calvary. We have got some indication of that. Pray with us that the Holy Will of God be accomplished. 6