41. The Lord Does Not Abandon Those Who Give Shelter to Homeless Children

You know, brothers, that there are very many children who, if one may put it this way, are condemned to perish—often from the very first day of their birth. You know that some mothers, whether out of shame, or because of extreme poverty, or more rarely out of inhuman cruelty, abandon their newborn children to the mercy of fate, or by deception leave them in the hands of others and disappear, or more commonly, simply—as our people say—leave them on doorsteps. But you also know that the Lord often sends good people to these unfortunate little ones: people who take them in, care for them as best they can, raise them, and then help them to make something of themselves. So you know all of this. Now I will ask you something further: do you know that the Lord shows particular favor to such people for their mercy toward these unfortunate children, and provides them with everything needed for the care of the abandoned infants? I do not know what you will answer me, but for my own part I think that by no means all of you know about this. And since I think so, I therefore intend to speak with you about what has just been said.

“A widow, having lost her husband, at the same time lost all her property, which had been taken from her as compensation for money her husband had misappropriated. Being in such a sorry state, she turned to Saint Seraphim for advice. She came to him, told him of her grief, and he said to her: ‘Build a church.’ The widow was greatly surprised by these words of the elder and began to think to herself: ‘How can I build a church when I do not have a piece of bread?’ And at that she began to doubt even the righteousness of the servant of God. She returned home in confusion, and to calm herself somewhat went to the Liturgy in one of the monasteries. During the singing of the communion verse, a woman suddenly approached her and asked her to take communion for her child. The widow fulfilled her wish and communed the infant. But when she wanted to return the child to its mother, the latter was no longer in the church and had disappeared without a trace. What was the poor widow to do? She herself had nothing to eat, and now had a stranger’s child on her hands as well. She took the child and brought it to the authorities. But they did not accept it there and ordered the widow to care for it until the guilty party was found. She declared that she had no means to raise the infant, and was brought before the city governor. There the Lord visibly stood up for her. The governor, having taken pity on her, proposed to his colleagues to render her assistance, and all agreed. The widow was immediately given a very large sum for that time, and it was also decided to give her a substantial monthly allowance. Other benefactors sent her flour, grain, and oil. Then she remembered the words of the Venerable one: ‘Build a church,’ and she clearly understood what kind of church he had been speaking to her about. And from that time, with the little girl she had taken in, she knew no want” (Account of Schema-Abbot Seraphim, pp. 291-292).

So truly, the Lord shows favor to those who shelter homeless children and provides them with everything necessary for their care. The first is directly indicated by the words of the Venerable one: “Build a church”—that is, receive and raise an abandoned infant, and this will be just as pleasing to God as if you had built a church itself, and you will find the favor of God. And the second is clearly indicated by what happened to the widow after she took the infant in. Unexpected help came to her, and she knew no want, whereas before this she herself had said she had no piece of bread. So it is certain that the mercy of God is poured out upon those who shelter homeless children. Let us also learn from all of this, brothers, to have compassion on unfortunate children and to help them. And how could we not have compassion and not help? For what can be more terrible than their situation? To be cast out onto the street, perhaps on the very first day of one’s birth, without having seen the light; to await one’s death; not to know a father or a mother or the tenderness of a mother; to be condemned, perhaps, to lifelong poverty—what can be more terrible than this? Yes, only a heart of stone would not be moved by the situation of such children and would not help them. But we, brothers, will not be such. As followers of the Teacher of love, our Lord, let us open our hearts to unfortunate children, take them into our arms, and replace for them their parents. Amen.