Salesian Literature

Chapter 16:  How to practise richness of spirit in real poverty

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If you are really poor, dearest Philothea, be such also in spirit.  Make a virtue of necessity and make use of this precious stone of poverty for what it is worth.  Its brilliance is not discovered in this world, nevertheless it is exceedingly beautiful and rich.  Have patience, you are in good company: our Lord, our Lady, the Apostles and so many men and women Saints have been poor.  Although capable of becoming rich, they despised it.  How many are the persons important in society who, in spite of much opposition, went to seek holy poverty in cloisters and hospitals with utmost diligence.  They took much trouble to find it like St. Alexis, St. Paula, St. Paulinus, St. Angela and so many others.  That is it, Philothea, showing you special courtesy, poverty comes to present itself to you.  You have met it without searching for it and without pain.  Embrace it then as the dear friend of Jesus Christ who was born, lived and died in poverty which was his nurse throughout his life.

 

Your poverty, Philothea, has two great privileges by means of which you are enabled to acquire great merit.  The first is that poverty did not come to you by your choice but solely by the will of God who made you poor without the consent of your own will.  What we receive simply from the will of God is always very pleasing to him, provided we receive it with cheerful heart and love of his holy will.  Where there is less of our will there is more of God’s will.  Simple and absolute acceptance of God’s will renders the suffering extremely pure.

 

The second privilege of this poverty is that it is a poverty that is truly poor.  A poverty that is praised, caressed, esteemed, helped and assisted is allied to riches and at the least it is not poor at all.  But a poverty that is despised, rejected, blamed and abandoned is truly poor.  Such then is the poverty of the laity.  Since they are not poor by their own choice but by necessity, it is not taken into much account.  The poverty of the laity not being held in great esteem, is poorer than that of the religious.  However, religious poverty has a very great excellence and is more praiseworthy because of the vow and the intention for which it has been chosen.

 

Do not complain, then my dear Philothea, of your poverty because we complain only about what displeases us.  If poverty displeases you, you are no longer poor in spirit but rather rich by attachment.  Do not be grieved at not being helped so well as required, for the excellence of poverty consists in it.  To be poor and not to accept any inconvenience from it is a very great ambition.  In fact, it is to desire the honour of poverty and the advantages of riches.

 

Do not be ashamed of being poor and of asking for alms in charity.  Receive with humility what will be given to you and accept the refusal with gentleness.  Often recall to mind the journey our Lady made to Egypt, to carry there her dear child.  How much contempt, poverty and misery she had to endure!  If you live like this you will be very rich in your poverty.

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