I WOULD like to relate to you about a visit a colleague and I did some years ago as members of the St Vincent de Paul Society.
We were called on to visit a family of two, a mother and young daughter. This was the first time she had asked for help. The mother had reported to social security that she had earned extra money taking in ironing.
For this she was penalised and had to pay back a certain amount. Being honest she paid it all back, which of course left her struggling to buy food. She missed many meals in preference to feeding her daughter. This came to an end after a month, when in desperation she called us.
After we arranged assistance and were about to leave she enquired if we would take some magazines, which we did.
Then came the heart breaker. The eight year-old daughter said, ‘Please can you take this doll to give to a little girl’.
What does one do?
Well eventually we were able to persuade her to keep it as it was obviously her favourite rag doll.
Outside these two hardened men got back into our car and cried. Although there were more families to visit we had to postpone them till the next day.
Which is more important, having your heart and mind lifted to God by works of art or by God’s greatest creation the earth and all its living creatures including man?
In 2000 years we have learned nothing. My point about the Vatican and all its treasures is that they should never have been built in the first place, as its history has nothing to recommend it to the billions who have never heard of it as they are too busy dying.
As Scrooge said, Are there no workhouses? One thing is certain these people will have a higher place in heaven than I could ever wish for. And all the cliches and quotable quotes will not change this one iota.
FRANK WRIGHT
Inala, Qld
