[Editor's Note: Apostleship of Prayer offers reflections and prayers for Pope Benedict XVI's monthly prayer intentions.]

General Intention

That the goods of the earth, given by God for all people, may be used wisely and in accordance with justice and solidarity.

Mission Intention

That governments of all nations may cooperate to fight diseases and epidemics in the Third World.

Daily Offering Prayer

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

Prayer of the Month

Father, You have given all peoples one common origin,
and Your will is to gather them as one family in Yourself.
Fill the hearts of all men with the fire of your love
and the desire to ensure justice for all their brothers and sisters.
By sharing the good things You give us
may we secure justice and equality for every human being,
an end to all division,
and a human society built on love and peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from Mass for the Progress of Peoples)

Just Distribution of Resources

Interpreting the Bible's Book of Genesis, the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms God's purpose in creation.

In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race (#2402).

Throughout history, humans have indeed sought to enjoy and to master earth's resources. But we have not always done so in ways that are sustainable and just. We have tended to seize, possess, exploit, and hoard the goods of creation. Our sin is both individual and corporate. The Church calls us to recognize that we have the power as well as the obligation to change our ways.

Man is himself the author, center, and goal of all economic and social life. The decisive point of the social question is that goods created by God for everyone should in fact reach everyone in accordance with justice and with the help of charity (#2459).

The Church challenges every economic system on earth. We speak of just distribution of resources, but too often it ends at that — self-satisfied words without action. We must always start with ourselves, but the Catechism states that our obligations to others are national as well as personal: 

Rich nations have a grave moral responsibility toward those which are unable to ensure the means of their development by themselves or have been prevented from doing so by tragic historical events. It is a duty in solidarity and charity; it is also an obligation in justice if the prosperity of the rich nations has come from resources that have not been paid for fairly (#2439).

Together we pray that we may have the wisdom and resolve as individuals, communities, and nations to care for and to share earth's resources with all who inhabit the earth.

For Reflection 

How are the world's resources unjustly distributed?  Why?

Scripture

God gives all creation to humanity (Genesis 1:26-31).
Make justice your aim (Isaiah 1:10-20).

Fight Against Diseases

Jesus healed the sick, especially those who were poor, and He asked His followers to do the same. Does His commandment mean anything to us today? 

Do poor people still suffer and die prematurely throughout the world? 

Yes, they do. Infectious illnesses account for the deaths of 17 million people each year, 90 percent of whom live in developing countries. Lacking access to common medicines, the poor in these countries become victims of many treatable, but untreated, diseases, including tuberculosis, malaria, smallpox, AIDS, dengue hemorrhagic fever, meningitis, and sleeping sickness.

Can the rich nations help the suffering poor of the Third World?  Yes, they could — but are not doing much. Every year researchers develop new drugs and treatment technologies to heal the sick, but the distribution of these resources is tragically disproportionate.

For example, the total cost of medicines throughout the world is between $50 and $60 billion annually. But only 0.02 percent of this sum goes to the treatment of respiratory ailments, tuberculosis, and diarrhea infections — those "diseases of the poor" that cause about 18 percent of the deaths around the world.

Acknowledging our Christian duty to help the neediest sick in the world, Pope Benedict XVI has continued Pope John Paul II's Good Samaritan Foundation. To date the foundation has assisted the sick in 11 countries in Africa, 1 in Asia, and 1 in Latin America. The Catholic Church serves 26.7 percent of the care centers for those with HIV/AIDS.

We understand our duty. We have begun to do it. We need to pray for the leaders of our world. May they enact policies to eradicate treatable diseases.

For Reflection

In what ways may we as individuals minister to the world's neediest sick?  How may we influence governments to do the same?

Scripture

Jesus heals the sick (Mark 6:55-56).
People gathered bringing the sick (Acts 5:12-16).