10 Thoughts from St. Alberto Hurtado to change the world

Fr. Alberto Hurtado (1901-1952) is a Chilean Jesuit saint known for his social action and for having founded the Hogar de Cristo (Christ’s Home). He left an immense impact in Chile, to the point that the government instituted the Day of Solidarity on August 18, remembering the day of his untimely death from pancreatic cancer.

However, Fr. Hurtado (as he is commonly referred to) is not only remembered for his social commitment. His words inspired thousands of Chileans during his life and after his death, whatever their social standing or profession.

The following is a compilation of some of the most impactful phrases and ideas of this great Latin American saint.

What would Christ do in my place? In the face of every problem, when facing the great leaders of the earth, the political problems of our time, the poor with their pains and miseries, the abandonment of collaborators, the shortage of workers, the insufficiency of our works, what would Christ do if he were in my place?

The greatest thing the world has is the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church, our Mother, as we are proud to call her. What would the world be without her? Because she is our Mother, we also have a filial responsibility towards her: She is in charge of her children, who are entrusted to her responsibility and depend on her care... She will be whatever we make of her. Let us face, then, our responsibility towards the Church.

All good citizens should be deeply interested in the Church in their country having many and holy priests. They are the surest guarantee of courageous and just progress in the future. A priest is a father, doctor, counselor, consoler, friend, and dispenser of grace; Christ living permanently in the world.

Christians who are truly conscious of their faith cannot but ask themselves what the situation of their brothers and sisters is, what their joys and sorrows are, so as to “rejoice with those who rejoice and grieve with those who mourn,” as Paul of Tarsus did.

I would like to make only one request of you, young spouses: that you try to work together every day to know your religion more intimately, to know Christ better, the great unknown in so many homes of the 20th century. Go through the pages of the Gospel together, and meditate on them with love, and I'm sure that this reading will not be ineffective.

A Christian without an intense concern to love is like a farmer unconcerned about the land, a sailor disinterested in the sea, a musician who does not take care of harmony. Christianity is the religion of love!

Many go into politics to shine, to ascend, to stand out: poor motives. Others, to defend the interests of a labor or capitalist interest group, or what is sadder still, purely personal interests; to enjoy influence that can be leveraged for profit, an unworthy and shameful motive. Others go to defend the interests of their party, a just but insufficient motive, because national interests should be above the interests of the party. Others — God willing there will be many — go into politics to serve the country.

Putting an end to misery is impossible, but fighting against it is a sacred duty.

Do not rest as long as there is pain to mitigate ... A crusade of love and respect for the poor ... Because a poor person is Christ, the naked Christ, the hungry Christ, the dirty Christ, the sick Christ, the abandoned Christ.

We must begin by getting out of the unhealthy environment of selfish preoccupations. There are people who live sad and tormented by memories of the past, by what others think of them in the present, and by what might happen to them in the future. Let them forget about themselves and worry about others, about doing them some good, about serving them, and the gray ghosts will disappear. Happiness does not depend on the outside, but on the inside.

All these phrases, and many more, can be found in the great collection of writings and messages of Father Alberto Hurtado published in his native Spanish on the Fundación Padre Hurtado website.