SW News: St Paul’s description of perfect Christian love was the central theme of the Holy Father’s address to the participants of the General Assembly of Catholic global aid outfit Caritas Internationalis on Thursday. Pope Francis reminded them that genuine Christian charity has no space for anger or grumbling. “Charity is patient and patience is the ability to endure unexpected trials,” he told the gathering.

The pontiff told the gathering that the most extraordinary action or act of heroism becomes meaningless if it is done without the feeling of genuine charity.  “Love opens our eyes and expands our gaze, allowing us to recognize in the stranger who crosses our path the face of a brother or sister who has a name, a story, a drama, to which we cannot remain indifferent," he said.

Each believer can reciprocate God’s love by becoming its witness and instrument for others, Pope Francis reminded the audience. "There is no better way to show God that we understand the meaning of the Eucharist than by giving to others what we ourselves have received when, in response to Christ’s love, we make ourselves a gift for others."
He exhorted them to sow the seeds of the Gospel through good deeds and accompanying the local Church through their commitment to pastoral charity.

The pontiff also digressed to speak on how the Blessed Sacrament can give everyone strength and reaffirm that the Eucharist is indeed the “real and continuing presence of Christ who offers Himself for us and who loved us first without asking anything in return”.

“The Eucharist is meant for us. It is the food and drink that sustains us on our journey, that refreshes us in our weariness, that lifts us up when we fall, and that calls us freely to accept everything God has done for us and for our salvation.”