Poverty January 8
The poverty we profess is not a poverty of destitution, but one in which the members enjoy that support and security which comes from belonging to our community (Const. 13.4).
There are various perspectives on the vow of
poverty and different ways to live it in the Church. Franciscan poverty is not the Crosiers’, nor is
the poverty of other more recent congregations.
Our ancient tradition of the vow certainly takes us in the direction of
simplicity and sobriety, but always with discerning moderation in the spirit of
the Rule of St. Augustine. Crosier poverty takes into account of the humanity
of the confreres and their varying needs. It recognizes how linked to the earth
we were created to be. Jesus took our
flesh, ate our food, drank our wine, worked our wood. He will return one day to recreate our world
and resurrect our bodies. To have and
enjoy material goods, then, during our earthy sojourn is not theologically problematic
for us. The challenge is to practice
poverty in a way that remains faithful to who we are as human beings and in a
way that assures a just distribution of goods respectful of the humanity of
others.
God makes the manioc bread, we humans season it. (Bakongo)
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