to see your brother is to see your GodJean Rodhain is convinced that encounters with others, especially those in need or suffering, should be a moment of revelation and transformation.
He therefore sees these encounters as opportunities to manifest Christian charity in concrete ways, recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual.
For him, this concept is a means of awakening a social conscience and motivating everyone to charitable action.
Jean Rodhain welcomes pilgrims
1960, kilometers of sunshine, Catholic Relief Services campaignJean Rodhain encourages the “shock of encounter”, emphasizing the importance of direct interaction with people in need.
He promotes an approach to charity that goes beyond material aid to include personal and spiritual commitment.
Here’s how:
Mgr Rodhain works with young people at Cité Saint-Pierre
1966, 20th anniversary of the pilgrimage of former prisoners of warJean Rodhain creates a decent welcome for Lourdes pilgrims living in precarious situations. He was inspired by an encounter with a family who could not afford to sleep in a hotel, and who chose to make the day trip to pray at the Grotto.
This encounter strengthened his resolve to build accommodation for the most destitute pilgrims.
On August 1, 1955, he inaugurated the Cité Saint-Pierre, a place of welcome for pilgrims without resources. He chose a site on the heights of the Sanctuary, a place where the most destitute could find comfortable accommodation, a space for prayer and communion.
Jean Rodhain’s encounters with the poorest and most marginalized people deeply inspired his commitment. They show how he himself experienced the “shock of encounter” touched by the needs of others, and how he responds with concrete actions that reflect his Christian values of charity and compassion.
