Name of the Chapter
GO TO THE PEOPLE.
Theme.
PASSION FOR OUR WORLD.
Opening prayer
Lord my god; You created this world and it me, out of love. Help me Lord to see the goodness of the world- where your son lived, walked and ate with us all. Strengthen me, this time of meditation to hear you and do what you say to me. Send the light of your Spirit in me to be with you at this time of Mediation.
About Fr. Dehon
After his ordination, Fr. Dehon was appointed to a large parish church, where he was the 7th curate. The time of Fr. Dehon in France was a very crucial time. The clergy thought of ‘spiritual exercise’ only. The sacristy was their only ‘room of life’. And they did not get involved with the life of society. But the time after the industrial revolution in France was very hard.
There were many cotton factories around the parish of Fr. Dehon. And only a few came to church on Sunday Eucharistic celebration or pious activities of the parish. And Fr. Dehon wanted to know the reason for it. And he found it out. He knew the hard work of the people, the situation of the textile factories in Saint-Quentin where even the children worked for 12 hours of a day.
So by knowing how far it is the life of the people and the Kingdome of god, he wanted to do something for this poor people in Love of God. He began by visiting families personally, especially the sick. He heard a very many confessions. He encouraged young people who were uncertain and tempted to abandon their faith. He went to see them in their miserable living quarters: to listen to them, to understand them better, and to win them over. From sunup to sundown he made himself available for everyone. He learned the value of patience and the worth of even the most modest and halting efforts.
Out of love to the Will of God expressed through the life of Jesus who was sent to live among people, he decided to give greater emphasis in his ministry to the oppressed. He was so much involved with the people of god that his own companions did not like him, and they – including the Bishop used to advice him to center his attention on the Sacramental life rather than getting involved into the life of the people.
Out of his love for the youth of his time he made a club where they could do read and they could be given good advice and more over where they could build up their moral life. And it was very import thing his time. And after that he found a place and a college for all the youth who were interested in studying and who did not have opportunity. And that was yet most needed thing of his time. And it was where there he did his first religious profession after he had found out the congregation.
The most important thing we have to remember is the background from where Fr. Dehon comes. He comes from a loyal family and with four Doctorates. And such a high intellect man died to his self to follow the Christ who lived with the poor, who eat with the poor, who was at the side of the needy. And Fr. Dehon’s Jesus was "that" Jesus.
Dehon’s word
His First Christmas sermon (1871) was a meditation on the poor child in the manger in which he denounced the worship of Money: ‘Godless capitalists are exploiting the worker and are destroying his body, his soul and his eternity… often without giving him an adequate share of the profits earned by sweat.’
This (the) society is rotten and the worker’s claims are well founded. The current regime is evil and a menace to society.
If I had on piece of advice to give to Christians and priests of our day, it would be not to remain strangers to social question, as had so often been the case. Get involved in the lives of farmers and workers, learn about their living condition, their food, their salaries, their children and elderly, their mutual aid societies, what they read and what they do in their spare time. Why? My God, in order care for the them, to instruct them, and to improve their circumstances! This ought to be our dominant concern, not politics or ambition or ascribing blame.
GO TO THE PEOPLE.
Follow the authentic example of Jesus in the Gospel who "did not only give charity to the poor, but also gave them justice, respect and honor".
Christian democracy is nothing other than Catholic social action. It is the Church acting on behalf of the interests of the people though the practice of justice and charity.

Reflection
(For the reflection on the word of God and on the importance of "GO TO THE PEOPLE" I would like to present a poem form GITANJALI)
Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads! Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut? Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee.
He is there where the tiller it tilling the hard ground and where the path-maker is breaking stone. He is with tem in sun and in shower, and his garment is covered with dust. Put off thy holy mantle and even like him come down on the dusty soil!
Deliverance? Where is this deliverance to be found? Our master himself has joyfully taken upon him the bonds of creation; he is bound with us all for ever.
Come out of thy meditation and leave aside thy flowers and incense! What harm is there if they clothes become tattered and stained? Meet him and stand by him in toil and in sweat of thy brow.
[Tagore, Gitanjali, better yourself books, 23rd road, Bandra, Mumbai, 2002, p. 30. Poem No.11)
Reflect on your own predominant images of god with the people.
God’s word ( bible quotation that suet the passage)
Mark: 3:13-19.
He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles. Be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon, James son of Zeb’e-dee and John the brother of James. And Andrew and Philip and Bartholomew, and Mathew, and Thomas, and James son of Al.phae’us and thadae’us and Simon the Ca.na.naean, and Judas Is-car’i.ot, who betrayed Him.
Closing prayer
Lord, you made each one of us in your own image and likeness. And help us to love you more and more and our brothers and sister for the grater glory of your name. We ask this in name of your son who became human being in love of me and the world. Amen.