Evening star., 1946-04-05

of food have it in their power to
alleviate the misfortunes of many.
And those same warnings show
the yet graver responsibility before
God of those whose cruel selfish
ness in accumulating and hiding
provisions or in any other way
shamefully exploit the misery of
their neighbors, individuals or peo-
pies for their own personal profit
or to enrich themselves by illicity
speculation or vile forms OF trade.
1t would be fatal to think that
the crisis can be overcome unless
tranquility and public order are
maintained.
Revolt Is a Delusion.
1t is necessary that all remain
calm. History shows us only too
often the disastrous results of that
delusion which drives hungry mobs
to revolt and pillage. That is like
claiming to make the fields fruit
full by sowing sparks in the desolate
stretches of stubble.
Woe to those who would will to
start the fire by indictments to USE
less disturbances. Woe to those
who stir it up by the sight OF their
scandalous luxury and by their ex-
travagance. Extravaganza! Fathers
and mothers Of families: See to it
that your children better appreciate
the sacredness of bread and of the
earth which gives it to us. Our age
has forgotten it too much. From
a decent simplicity of life it has
slipped insensibly into seeking and
satisfying unhealthy pleasures and
fanciful needs.
And, 10, God making scarcer his
gift of bread has willed by this
hard lesson to call it back to the
straight path. May this lesson be
taken in a docile spirit and lead
to the establishment of a better
economic and social order!
During the war years death passed
forward and backwards along the
lines of battle and penetrated deep
ly into each land, striking down
innumerable victims among the
combatantS and the civilian popu-
latiOns.
1t is time that we bar its way now
that we see 1t getting ready to
spread incomparably vaster carnage
than that produced by the fire of
arms. We must not allow it to
engrave on millions of tombs of in
nocent children the tragic words of
accusation: The little ones have
asked for bread, and there was none
to break it unto them" Iamenta-
tions, iv4).
Harken all of you individuals and
peoples who have the means in one
way or another to come to the aid
of your brothers, hearken to the
prophets exhortation: Deal thy
bread to the hungry" Isaiah, lviii.0
Christ Asks for Bread.
But fix your gaze on the grand
vision: 1t Is not only the earths
hungry who at this moment hold
out to you their suppliant hands.
Christ Himself asks you for the
bread of which His poor are in
want. Every mouthful of food
which you give to them is given to
Him. Every mouthful which you
refused them is refused to Him.
The day will come in which what
many do not see even yet will be
made manifest before the eyes of
all, when the Supreme Judge will
appear in the majesty of His justice
to pronounce before all mankind
His irrevocable sentence. Unhappy
forever will they be on whose arms
Will resound the terrible condemna-
ton: Depart from you, you cursed
for I was hungry, and you
gave Me not to eat" Matthew
INVALID. But blessed forever
those who will hear the divine words
Of infinite sweetness Come. We
blessed Of My Father I. for l was
hungry, and you gave me to eat =. I.
as you did it to one of these NV
least brethren, you did it to me"
Matthew, xxv.34-40).