Poverty: Advent & the Passionist Pillars
To read the first article in this series, click here.
St. Paul of the Cross was inspired to write the Passionist Rule
“Let it be known that the intention God gave me with regard to this Congregation was none other than this: in the first place, to observe God’s law perfectly, together with the perfect observance of his evangelical counsels, especially by total detachment from all created things with the perfect practice of holy poverty, so essential for the observance of the other counsels and for the maintaining fervor at prayer”
Poverty was a virtue extremely dear to the heart of St. Paul of the Cross. It formed an integral part of his original inspiration to found the Passionist Congregation. It is no surprise, then, that poverty was part of the three-fold spirit Paul set before his spiritual children in his last will and testament.
Poverty marked the life of Christ who “[had} nowhere to rest his head” (Mt 8:20) and died deprived of everything, even of a tomb of His own. In the life of His Mother this trait is also evident, especially in the mysteries of Christ’s infancy recorded for us by the evangelist Luke.
Two doves, the offering of the poor
Photo by Alpesh Jogia on Unsplash
We know that Mary was materially poor from the fact that she had only a pair of turtledoves to offer when Jesus was present in the temple as an infant (cf. Lk 2:22-24). Yet more important than material poverty was the deep poverty of spirit manifested in the Blessed Mother. The classic example of this comes on the occasion of her visit to her cousin, Elizabeth. Greeted by Elizabeth’s praise of the Incarnate Word in Mary’s womb and the dignity of the Mother of God, Mary responds by acknowledging that all the good in her life and the history of her people has come from God alone (cf. Lk 1:46-55). This is poverty of spirit: recognizing our place as creatures, and at the same time trusting and glorifying the power of our Creator and Redeemer.
It is just such a poverty that Passionists strive to imitate - we are poor materially, yes, but we ought also to be poor in spirit. This means, in the words of St. Paul of the Cross, that we “must become detached from self-gratification, our own opinions and sentiments, that we may…practice true poverty of spirit.” We must keep in mind how dependent we are upon God for everything, and grow in trust and gratitude for all that He gives us, spiritually and temporally.
Perhaps we could try a one of these practical ways to practice poverty during this Advent season:
In the evening, recall one good thing and one difficult thing from the day’s activities - thank God for both of them, sent to you through His loving providence.
Receive compliments graciously (no arguing!) and direct the praise to God.
Mary, Queen of the Anawim, pray for us!