Poverty Damjan, Elias, Jacques & John – April, 19th

Poverty

Damjan, Elias, Jacques & John – April, 19th

Magnificat


My soul magnifies the LordAnd my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid;For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;Because he who is mighty has done great things for me,and holy is his name;And his mercy is from generation to generationon those who fear him.He has shown might with his arm,He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.He has put down the mighty from their thrones,and has exalted the lowly.He has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty.He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of his mercyEven as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Poverty in Life of Ignatius


Four stages:

1 - Ignatius the Pilgrim convert (1521-24):

From solitary to apostolic mendicancy 2 - Ignatius the Student (1524-38):

Simplicity & begging during studies in Paris 3 - Ignatius & First Companions (1538-47):

Living off alms, caring for sick & dying, teachingcatechism; the Venice experience (model for tertianship). No fixed revenues.

Ignatius & companions choose total poverty (Deliberation of 1539, Formula of Institute, Spiritual Diary).

4. Ignatius & Early Society (after 1547): How to continue personal poverty while raising funds for apostolates, esp colleges?

Poverty in Spiritual Exercises

Love of Christ poor, rejected, humiliated as in colloquies of

• the Kingdom: “My resolute wish and desire, and my considered determination on the sole condition that this be for your greater service and praise is to imitate you in enduring every outrage and all contempt, and utter poverty, both actual and spiritual, if your most holy Majesty wants to choose me and receive me into that life and state.” [98]

• the Two Standards: asking the Lord to choose and receive me “in actual poverty”. [147]

• Third Way of Being Humble: “... in order to imitate Christ Our Lord and to be actually more like him, I want and choose poverty with Christ poor rather than wealth ...” [167]


Images of Poverty in Constitutions


as a mother ...

“All should love poverty as a mother, and according to the measure of holy discretion all should, when

occasions arise, feel some of its effects.” (III.i.25 [287])



as a strong wall, a defence, a rampart, a bulwark ...

“Poverty, as the strong wall of the religious institute, should be loved and preserved in its integrity as far as this is possible with God's grace. The enemy of the human race generally tries to weaken this defence and rampart which God our Lord inspired religious institutes to raise against him and the other adversaries of their perfection.” (VI.2.I[553])

Poverty


Poverty



Based on actual experience (not theory).

Curiously does not use rationale from Sp Ex (but clearly presumed)

Distinctions between personal & communal poverty

Gratuity of ministries : “they ought to give gratuitously whatthey have gratuitously received” (Mt10:9)

Linked to love of God, trust in God, availability for mission

Cannot be altered, except to be made more strict. [553-554]


Ignatius' Warning against Self-Deception


“Lovers of poverty should also love her retinue as far as they can – poor food, poor clothing, poor sleeping

accommodations, and being looked down upon. Otherwise, someone who loved poverty but was unwilling to

experience any deprivation or effect of it would be a pretty dainty poor person. He would certainly give evidence that he loved the name rather than the reality of poverty – or loved it with words more than with the heart.”

Ignatius (Polanco) to companions in Padua, 7 Aug. 1547

Warns against “spiritualizing” actual poverty: Any spiritual poverty that glosses over actual poverty will miss both!

Status on Poverty


Imitation of Christ : truly and spiritually poor life ; frugality far from earthly riches

dependence and restraint in the use of the goods

Principle found in love of the Word of God, made flesh and crucified: achieve that liberty for an intense love of God and neighbour

General Principles 1. Evangelical poverty…

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The least Company…

General Principles 2. In the society of Jesus…

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…the Beatitudes

• Preach in all its integrity

• Simplicity and fraternal union

3. Value the goods of the Kingdom of God…General Principles

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Over personal fulfilment, competition, efficiency and success at any cost

Evangelical solidarity

4. PropheticGeneral Principles

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witness of the total emptying of incarnation and the cross

5. Gratuity of loveGeneral Principles

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• No one can lightly call himself poor• So it means:

1. genuiness; authentic, leading to interior conversion

2. generous dedication to work for the Kingdom of God, not temporal

gain; equitable and just3. charity

nothing our own, but common in Christ

6. Adapted to our timeGeneral Principles

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The least Company…

7. In the society of Jesus…General Principles

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8. standard of living of a family of slender means

9. handover to the community what we receive

10. to preserve and foster this poverty

11. in conversion of heart

General Principles

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• apostolic indifference

• turning to those most in need

• spiritually and apostolically effective

12. Simple and happy to shareGeneral Principles

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Personal Poverty 1 : the vow of poverty 2 : common life

• Superfluities are to be avoid• Superiors should provide (cloth, food, necessities) or allow• No unreasonable practice of TV, radio, musical, no private car, no costly journey. • Generous hospitality

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Personal Poverty 1 : our common Way of living

in External Matters

• Common life & be among people for the redemption of the world: sharing things…

• Any austerity of other religious institutes locally do

• Living standard appropriate of disciples of Christ poor: simple, welcoming, open…

• Suitable, appropriate and simple buildings

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Poverty in common 1. sources of revenues necessary for living and for the apostolate

a. Spiritual and sacramental ministries transcend every economic remuneration and urge us toward a perfect gratuity: for inner freedom, outer freedom, edification of others, pure love of Christ and humankind. Look not on our interest but that of Christ.

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Poverty in common 1. sources of revenues necessary for living and for the apostolateb.

All sources of revenues are permitted. Demand no stipend for our spiritual work. Remuneration and gifts considered to be the fruit of personal talent and industry may be accepted. For the celebration of Mass, where it can be done, gratuity should be practiced.

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Poverty in common 1. sources of revenues necessary for living and for the apostolate

c. The Society temporal’s goods are to be

regarded as the property of our Lord Jesus-Christ and as the patrimony of Christ poor.

d. We should be vigilant in the administration of

goods that social justice is not violated.

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Poverty in common

2. the distinction between communities

and apostolic institutions.

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Poverty in common 3. The poverty of communities

a. Communities are capable of possessing movable and immovable property.

The goods of apostolic institutions of the Society may not be diverted to the use of Jesuits or of communities. The communities shouldn’t have fixed and stables rents coming from property. Others fixed and stable revenues are licit.

They may own only that immovable property necessary and appropriate for habitation and use.

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Poverty in common 3. The poverty of communities

b. Those responsible for administration should prepare a projected budget as well as a statement of revenues and expenses.

An annual financial report must be made.

The surplus of each community is to be distributed yearly.

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Poverty of the apostolic institutions

Apostolic institutions, churches excepted, can have revenue-bearing capital and stable revenues, adequate to their purpose.

Mindful that we are sent to preach in poverty, take care that our apostolic institutions avoid any manner of extravagance and limit themselves strictly to the functional, attentive to the standards of similar institutions or works in the region and to their apostolic purpose.

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The Sharing of Goods

there is to be provision for the distribution of the communities’ surplus:

the apostolic institutions in need, the need of the whole society and of non-Jesuits

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The poverty of the Society as a whole and of the provinces

The Society, provinces and regions are capable of possessing even revenue-bearing capital and enjoying stable and assured revenues in the limits herein defined :

to promote certain apostolic works of a more universal kind or to relieve the needs of the province

Arca Seminarii, Arca Praevisionis, Arca Operum Apostolicorum, Arca Fundationum.

And dispose of the surplus with the approval of the General.

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Apostolic Institutions

apostolic institutions, churches excepted,

can have revenue-bearing capital and stable

Questions


Personal: how have you grown in your living out of poverty?

Communal: In your experience, what have been the benefits and challenges of communal poverty

Apostolic: In what way has your experience of poverty, both personal and communal, been apostolic?

Documents

Poverty Damjan, Elias, Jacques & John – April, 19th