Martyrdom of Love: Homeless Food Runs

Relics of martyrs from Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, El Salvador,

 and Mexico at St. Bartholomew's Church.

Students from the Catholic University of America (CUA) Rome center volunteered at the weekly homeless food run yesterday night. Food is prepared in the kitchen on the top floor of Saint Bartholomew's Church and then distributed to the homeless at two piazzas in Rome. This time, however, the church itself was open, so the CUA students spent some time in prayer before going to the kitchen.

Commissioned by Saint Pope John Paul II, the side chapels of Saint Bartholomew's Church hold relics of 20 and 21st century martyrs from countries all over the world including Asia, Latin America, Africa, Spain, and the relics of those killed in the face of Communism and Nazism. The ethnic diversity of the martyrs reflects the diversity of those involved in the homeless food run. Among the service volunteers, for example, there are people who speak English, Spanish, Italian and Hindi, and among the homeless people there is one gentleman who speaks seven different languages. Each person has his own unique story and place of origin.

Perhaps more importantly, however, the martyrs and the people at the homeless food run are united in their diversity-- that is, they sacrifice for love of God and their neighbor by giving of their own life or their time for the other. At the homeless food runs, the volunteers uphold the dignity and worth intrinsic in every human being. This service project transcends merely distributing food, rather it is a sharing of one's life and experiences with another person. This attitude is what drives the group to cook homemade food, to stay out late to talk with people who have nothing to offer in return, to give out more than one fruit per person, and is what makes us concerned for each other's well-being outside of merely Thursday nights.

Reflection on the spiritual element which is the driving force of service is imperative, for because God created humans in His image and likeness, His honor is rightfully upheld when one takes care of himself and others. Needless to say, after this reflection, the CUA students were ready to serve the other volunteers and homeless people by giving of themselves unreservedly.

Rendiamo grazie a Dio!