A painful shadow on contemporary times
The last two decades of the 20th Century crossing into the beginning of the Third Millennium formed an age of diverse human experience. This diversity showed itself in times of security and in times of international unrest; in times of peace and times of war; in times of great prosperity and in times of a volatile economy; in times of amazing medical advances and in times of terrible illness and incurable disease. After over two decades, AIDS remains a major cause of affliction, suffering and loss of life.
During the past twenty years, much research has been done and various experimental treatments have been developed. In spite of the medical adavnces, AIDS remains a painful shadow on contemporary times. It is estimated that over 40 million people worldwide are living with AIDS/HIV. This number includes 37 million adults and 2.5 million children who are younger than 15 years of age. These staggering figures reflect cases in the United States (an estimated 950,000 people) and the Caribbean, as well as Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Of the almost epidemic situation in Africa, Pope John Paul II lamented in his 2004 Lenten Pastoral Letter: "What too of the tragedy of AIDS and its devastating consequences in Africa? It is said that millions of persons are now afflicted by this scourge, many of whom were infected from birth. Humanity cannot close its eyes in the face of so appalling a tragedy!"
Wednesday, December 1, has been designated as World AIDS Day. Initiated in 1988 by the World Summit of Ministers of Health on AIDS, this day is intended to heighten awareness of the human community of the AIDS crisis as well as to encourage the commitment of governments, organizations, churches and individuals to respond to their brothers and sisters who are ravaged by this awful disease.
The most vulnerable victims
The theme for this year's World AIDS Day is "Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS." While World AIDS Day serves as an opportunity to draw attention to issues which are relevant to each person who suffers the effects of this terrible plight, it is important to focus on the most vulnerable victims — women and girls.
A recent communication from the National Catholic AIDS Network stresses: "HIV and AIDS affect women in many different ways. Among them are transmission issues: transmission to women of the HIV virus from a heterosexual husband or male partner, from mother to child, through acts of sexual violence, and through injection drug use. Discrimination is also an issue for women with HIV/AIDS. It impacts their job prospects, their economic and social positions, and their access to healthcare services and education."
The description of the issues which women infected with HIV/AIDS face cannot be ignored. Fear, poverty, loneliness and anxiety grip these victims who often feel rejected and outcast. The compassion and justice which Jesus proclaimed and demonstrated call every member of the Church to react with that charity which is to fill the heart of every Christian. Saint John emphasizes this in his First Letter: “The way we came to know love was that [Jesus] laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone has worldly means and sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth” (1 Jn 3: 16-18). The faith which we profess coupled with the charity which dwells in our hearts stirs us to compassion, to prayer and also to action, particularly for the afflicted, dejected, the ostracized.
In words highly prophetic, the Fathers of Vatican Council II, in the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, taught: “The joy and hope, grief and anguish of the men and women of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well. Nothing that is genuinely human fails to find an echo in their hearts” (no. 1). The AIDS pandemic, and the cry for help from those who suffer its terrible effects, challenge every Christian to show that solidarity which is the fruit of genuine charity, the love of God Himself.
The season of hope
World AIDS Day will coincide with the beginning of the Season of Advent, the liturgical season of hope. During Advent, we recall the First Coming of Christ, His birth in human flesh. We also look to His Second Coming, when Jesus will return as our King and Judge. During this season, we are reminded as well that Christ comes to us in a third way. “The intermediate coming is a hidden one,” as Saint Bernard of Clairvaux teaches (Office of Readings, Wednesday, First Week of Advent). The faithful Christian is aware that Christ comes in quiet and unexpected ways. The face of Jesus is always to be seen in the sick and the suffering. In our own day, the suffering Christ is highly recognizable in the men, women and children who need the care and concern of their brothers and sisters in the international human family.
Locally, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia remains committed to our outreach to persons suffering with HIV/AIDS through the Office for AIDS Ministry. Particularly, I am deeply grateful for the Missionaries of Charity who do so much to bring hope to women and children with HIV/AIDS through Gift of Mary Home in Chester. I encourage all of the faithful during this season of hope to become more conscious of the plight of persons, particularly women and children who are living with HIV/AIDS. In that heightened awareness, may we all see Jesus in those who are suffering and, by our generosity, compassion and love, may we seek to relieve some of the pain and anguish which these persons experience. Further, I ask all of our parishes during World AIDS Day for prayers that the AIDS pandemic will soon be stemmed.
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