When a member of the Youth Congregation fell into material need, it was not a haphazard help that he received. The Congregation had a systematic and just way of handling the problem. In the case of the young man himself making the request, it went to the council of the Congregation. Otherwise, the congregants themselves had to be aware of the needs of one another and take appropriate steps.
Art. 11. In the case where a congregant is in need of the Congregation, he will present his situation to the Prefect, or to the Director. They will assemble the council to inform them and to get them to provide help immediately.
Art. 12. Any congregant who comes to know about the misery of one of his confreres will make this known to the Prefect or the Director, who will act in accordance with the preceding article, even before being approached by the one who needs to be helped.
All this was to be done with the utmost discretion
Art. 17. It is strictly forbidden to ever know outside of the congregation what it does for the relief of one of its members.
Statuts, Chapitre XIV,§ 1 — Envers les confrères pauvres
Action is eloquence. ~William Shakespeare
I must admit that I do not know why there is the addition about it being forbidden that any outside of the group know of what has been done. Perhaps those helping did not want it known, I don’t know and it does not much matter to me. Perhaps it is simply something to be respected.
Yesterday was not an easy one and I felt little like I was celebrating such a wonderous Feast Day. In my prayer following my thoughts on yesterdays posting I found myself with a new awareness of my littleness – not necessarily a bad thing, but not something thta I found easy to sit with. It was humbling and I found myself able only to “be” in it. My sole consolation in my God. As I walked, though the snow brought brightness to the dark and there was the silence that only night brings to a city, the wind was bitter and I was unable to withstand the cold. My favorite time and way of being and walking with God needed to be cut short and I had to return to my room. Unable to follow my plans and “do” what and how I loved to do. I found myself locked out of my room, it was still incredibly early with none yet able to help me. I who never made this kind of mistake, I who was always so well organized and who did not have to rely on others.
As with the meetings I was so not in control in any way. It was/is all small stuff, everyday stuff, yet even with a part of my prayer life somehow being affected. Would it change anything in the grand scheme of things, of course not. But I did have to let go. There was little that I could take pride in (even this though is so telling). Certainly no eloquence in any of it. No attitude of awareness of other. As I sit here I realise how much I like plans, and knowing and control and having something to offer (other than just my presence and being).