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How can one explain the virtue of charity, the way one feels when one loves, the sensation of wanting to help, give, come out of oneself for the good of another. Some would have us think that chemical reactions in certain parts of the brain engender the experience of love, that it can be explained away by pure scientific logic with no need to posit the participation of a First Principle. There is no need to implicate a God. A rational explanation of love can be attributed to the movement of substances through certain areas of the brain. But no, love, that most universal, tremendous and mysterious of the cosmic forces cannot be explained away so glibly. I cannot look at a child hugging its mother and the mother's response and not think that that bond, that love is engendered by Love Itself. A cold, rational scientific explanation of love flies in the face of what 1 experience in our home for children. Our children enter ill, some helpless, some requiring total care due to blindness or paralysis. Their suffering is met with kindness and compassion and the most compassionate individuals in the home are the other children. They have known suffering and dejection, have been rejected for being ill and destitute and their suffering has blossomed into love and compassion for the new children entering our home. Suffering is difficult to understand or comprehend, especially when it involves a child, but it does make us more dependent on God and one another and it engenders compassion for others who are also suffering. God is compassion and where compassion exists between two people, God is there. As believers, our faith tells us that God brings good out of any situation and out of suffering God engenders compassion and love. That altruistic love, or agape, that the children experience in our house cannot be explained scientifically. It can only be explained by the love emanating from our Triune God, the eternal dance of love of the Three Divine Persons. One cannot look at creation and not believe that it comes from a loving compassionate God and that love and compassion are infused into each one of us for the good of others.

In our last newsletter we described the plight of two blind children, José Luis, a 10 year old with bilateral corneal tumours and Alfredo, a 16 year old with severe inflammation of the internal structures of both eyes. José received a corneal transplant two weeks ago and happily announced that he can see the trees in the garden. Alfredo had surgery three weeks ago and has good near vision. It is hoped that his far vision will improve..

As always, we thank you for sharing your gifts with us and making God's compassion and love visible in the world. We love you and wish you His peace.

The San Damiano Foundation has produced a film in DVD format about our home for children. The film details the day-to-day routine of the home and highlights the plight of the children we care for. It was produced at no cost to the Villa La Paz Foundation. Copies are available for a donation of $20.00. The San Damiano Foundation's mission is to put the power of film at the service of the poor. To order a copy of the film titled, "The Patients of a Saint," please click here