“I bought a ranch for the poor of Puerto Principe…My object in starting this ranch was to gather together poor boys and girls, many of whom were wandering the streets begging. At the ranch they were fed, clothed, and taught their religion, as well as reading, writing, and whatever art or trade they wanted to learn” (Auto. 563-564).

SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR

“It is more important to teach the poor to fish than giving them fish”, people say that it is a Chinese adage. The christian charity, human solidarity, natural goodness of sharing from one´s own belonging, should never produce dependency. So that it may be real and useful one, the charity should help to create freedom, to search for opportunities, to offer proposals to improve the quality of life.

The archbishop of Santiago de Cuba seems to have understood perfectly the Chinese adage. As a man practical and intelligent man in the textile industry in his youth period, he did not want to be conformed to the announcing of the Word of God. This was the reason impelling him to evangelize and also to undertake social works for the promotion of the underprivileged classes. At that time, majority of the people in Cuba was in a deplorable situation without a basic formation or professional preparation, almost without anything…

The archbishop began to work. He placed workshops in the prisons to learn some works so that the prisoners could go out rehabilitated and lead a life of dignity; he started a farm – school for the boys and girls where they could learn some techniques on agriculture and so he himself wrote a manual or method…. the politicians couldn´t do, Claret realized as the one sent by God. He filled the hands with the bread of the Word and the bread for human development. Thanks to his initiatives, many children and youngsters learnt to “fish”, found a way for their lives.

Do you know the difference between solidarity and alms giving?