A Sparing-Sharing Lifestyle

In this continuing series I last touched on the underlying point of living a factually "frugal" or "poor" lifestyle (what the author frequently refers to as Gospel poverty). This entry will be relatively brief, as I'm only going to give some highlights from the chapter "A Sparing-Sharing Lifestyle." I encourage you to get a copy for yourself because Thomas Dubay makes so many wonderful points that I couldn't possibly relate them all here!

"Biblical writers were not philosophers, but they knew well enough that material sharing is a consequence of any sincere love. If the goods of earth are extensions of my person and if I love my neighbor as myself, I naturally share my good things. It is idle for me to proclaim concern for the poor, the homeless, for example, and at the same time indulge in elegant dining and drinking, pleasure traveling, and an extensive wardrobe. My life belies my rhetoric... If I am to love my fellowman as myself, it must follow that I desire that his needs be cared for at least as well as I care for mine." [p. 65]

Blessed Mother Teresa

"The contemporary teaching Church has made the point more than once that it is not enough to give of our superfluities to the needy of our world. We are to give even from our need." [p. 67]

"A sharing manner of life is not optional. Creation belongs to all members of the human race, not mainly to the clever, intelligent, resourceful, well born. Sheer justice demands equitable participation. Pope Paul VI cited Saint Ambrose when he said, 'You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over to him what is his. For what has been given in common for the use of all you have arrogated to yourself. The world is given to all and not only to the rich.'" [p. 68]

St. Louis, King of France, serving the poor

 "A word of caution. In all our enthusiasm for the alleviation of the plight of the poor we are well advised to avoid the basic atheistic thesis that material destitution is the greatest of all evils... Social injustice is evil, no doubt. But there is a far greater evil, namely, that of not seeking God... They of the largest minds, the saints, have lived heroically the sparing-sharing life of the Gospels, while at the same time they first of all sought eternal life both for themselves and for others." [p. 68-69]

"Some, like Saint John the Baptist de la Salle, lived the message of this volume in a simple direct manner: they literally sold all they owned and gave the proceeds to the poor. Others responded to the Gospel after the manner of Blessed Louisa Albertoni, who, after her husband died, lived in deepest personal poverty and prayer. This woman expended her entire fortune in behalf of the needy to the point that she had nothing left, and she herself lived on alms. Louisa had a unique way of getting rid of her wealth. She would bake huge batches of bread, put gold and silver coins in the loaves, and then distribute them to the poor." [p. 69]

Blessed Louisa Albertoni

"While he was still a layman Saint Peter Damian not only gave directly to the needy but also often invited them to his own table and served them with his own hands. Saint Paulinus of Nola and his wife used their wealth for sundry religious and philanthropic exercises, but they also supported a large number of poor debtors, itinerants, and other needy people. Many of these they lodged in the lower section of their own house." [p. 69]

"Austere and hard on themselves, the saints are customarily indulgent and even tender with the ill and unfortunate. Saint Paschal Baylon, who as a layman went barefooted, ate meagerly and fasted often, yet went to the trouble of obtaining delicacies for the sick and needy. Saint Teresa of Avila mentioned in one of her letters that she commonly gave away to others the candies and other niceties she received." [p.71-72]