Devotion for today: Timely thoughts for all of us as many in the world face financial difficulties

AMERICA/PERU - Solidarity and sobriety: the solution to the crisis

Huancayo (Agenzia Fides) - The solution to the economic crisis is greater solidarity and greater sobriety of life style: this was said by the Catholic Archbishop of Huancayo, Archbishop Mons. Pedro Barreto Jimeno SJ, at a conference organized in Canada, by the Catholic Agency for Development Peace "Agenzia Dessarrollo y Paz", promoted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Canada. The Agency supports various solidarity and cooperation run by the Catholic Church in Latin America, in Africa and in Asia.

The title of the Conference was: "Development and Peace: the greater the crisis, the greater the solidarity". Fides was informed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Peru that the Archbishop said when there is talk of a crisis, at any level, we are afraid, "very often we panic and in the confusion, we forget to think about others ".

Archbishop Barreto explained: "In the face of the economic crisis, the Catholic Church in her teaching proposes a life of more sobriety and austerity. We must learn to do without the superfluous, and live with more sobriety, sharing with others who we are and what we have.

This is what Christ is calling us to do in this Season of Lent: Jesus calls us to convert ourselves, to change, and to live out Christian charity which is a witness of the authenticity of our faith". (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 23/02/2013)

 Prayer: ONE THING I NEED

Lord, I need only one thing in this world; to know myself and to love you. Give me your love and your grace; with these I am satisfied and desire nothing more.  http://faculty.cbhs.org

Psalm 27:4: One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Luke 10:42: but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.

Matthew 19:21: Jesus answered, "If you desire to be perfect," replied Jesus, "go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and come, follow me."