Saint basil's storehouse
St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea, (330 - 379 AD), was known for his remarkable works of charity and brilliant teachings on wealth and poverty. A few years ago, I had the honor to write the introduction to “On Social Justice,” a book of newly-translated homilies of St. Basil. It is an astounding treasure of Christian teaching on mercy and justice, and pulls absolutely no punches about our responsibilities as Christians to assist those in need around us.
Original Project Mexico & St. Innocent Video
As an example, with no sugar-coating, St. Basil drives home his point when he says, “Tell me, what better service do silver-encrusted tables…provide than their simpler counterparts? Yet for their sake, the rich do not respond to the poor…. Indeed, you refuse to give anything, insisting that it is impossible to satisfy the needs of those who beg of you. You profess this to be true with your tongue, but…silently, your hand bears witness to the falsehood, flashing as it does with the jewels from your ring. How many could you have delivered from want with but a single ring from your finger? ...In just one of your closets there are enough clothes to cover an entire town shivering with cold….”
Though this injunction sounds like it was written yesterday, in fact, it was penned over 1,600 years ago! The struggle that occurs in human hearts doesn’t change through the ages, and so the medicine prescribed by St. Basil nearly two millennia ago is still effective today: “You are guilty of injustice towards as many as you might have aided, and did not…. ‘The one who has mercy on the poor lends to God’ (Prov. 19:17). Would you not like to have the Master of all as your guarantor for full repayment?” Every time I read his teachings I am shamed by my selfishness. But his prescription is merciful as he encourages us to try to do better and do more each day.
You may know that I founded Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage, and with my wife, Margaret, developed and managed them for over twenty years. By God’s grace and the sacrifices of many, many people, those ministries have blessed thousands of volunteers, hundreds of needy families who have received homes, and the many special boys of St. Innocent Orphanage who have a safe refuge where they can blossom into the fine young men that God intended, free of fear in a safe and loving environment.
Over the years, Margaret and I have encountered some very worthy people with needs that fall outside the scope of Project Mexico and the orphanage. The need is something that they cannot provide for themselves but having it met would will either solve a major problem in their lives or put them in a position of being able to provide for themselves – not to mention the emotional and spiritual boost that comes with receiving a timely blessing. People don’t forget having their prayers answered and it can be a great source of comfort when they later deal with other struggles to remember that God heard their prayers and provided for them in the past.
When Margaret and I come across a worthy project in Mexico or the U.S. that doesn’t fall under the Project Mexico or orphanage umbrella, we address it separately under “St. Basil’s Storehouse.” For example, in a past project, a micro loan was made to a Mexican family who was working as hard as they could but encountered one setback after another due to no fault of their own. The father is an excellent metal fabricator but suffered serious back injuries and was unable to work enough to meet their needs so they were living hand-to-mouth with very few options. They approached us with the idea to open a small convenience store next to their home which would allow the father to work there but be able to take breaks when needed. In addition, it would allow the children to take on various roles in the family business as they grew. However, there was no way in the world for them to obtain the $8,000 needed to launch the business. After careful prayer and consideration on our part, and close work with the family to develop a solid business plan, the money were made available to them through St. Basil’s Storehouse. To say that it was a success would be a major understatement. They built the business and it has prospered to the point that they can now send their children to university – after literally starting out dirt poor with “only” a lot of love and desire to make a good life for their family.
There have been other similar projects and stories. When we encounter an opportunity that requires more funds than are available, we like to share it with you - our family and friends - to allow you to also enjoy the blessings that our Lord reserves for those who “lend to the poor.” Please prayerfully consider your involvement in these projects but in doing so, please do not take away from any funds that would typically go to Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage, your local parish, or any charity that has come to rely on your support.
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