Yesterday, 08:01 AM
Chapter IX. Of the Great Poverty of Christ
The first companion of Jesus Christ, the Book of Life and our salvation, was, therefore, constant, supreme, and perfect poverty. This poverty was of three degrees: one was great, the second was yet greater and was joined with the first, but the third kind, joined with the first and the second, made up the most perfect poverty.
The first degree of this perfect poverty of Christ, who is the Book, the Way, and the Leader of the soul, was that He deigned to be poor in all the temporal things of this world. Thus did He own neither land, nor vineyard, nor garden, nor other possessions; He had neither gold, nor silver, nor money whatsoever, nor any other thing of His own, neither would He consent to accept of the things of this world aught save what did suffice to succour Him in the depths of His great poverty and supply the needs of His body, that is to say, hunger, thirst, and want, cold and heat, great weariness, austerity and hardship. Yet of bodily necessaries would He accept naught that was delicate or pleasant to the taste, but only coarse and common food such as was found in those places and provinces wherein Christ did live as liveth a beggar, without house or habitation.
The second degree of Christ's poverty was greater than the first, seeing that He did desire to be poor in friends and kindred and in all familiarity with the great and powerful, and finally in all worldly friendship. Wherefore did He not possess, nor desire to possess, any friend whatsoever of His own, nor yet of His mother or His putative father Joseph, or His disciples. For this reason did none hesitate to kick Him, strike Him, and scourge Him, and to speak hurtful words unto Him. And He deigned to be born of a poor and humble mother and to be brought up subject unto a poor carpenter, His putative father. He did likewise deprive Himself of the love and familiar intercourse of kings and rulers, of priests and scribes, and of the love of friends and kindred — so that neither for His mother's sake, nor for any other person, would He leave undone aught the which could be pleasing unto His Almighty Father or according unto His will. Amen.
The first companion of Jesus Christ, the Book of Life and our salvation, was, therefore, constant, supreme, and perfect poverty. This poverty was of three degrees: one was great, the second was yet greater and was joined with the first, but the third kind, joined with the first and the second, made up the most perfect poverty.
The first degree of this perfect poverty of Christ, who is the Book, the Way, and the Leader of the soul, was that He deigned to be poor in all the temporal things of this world. Thus did He own neither land, nor vineyard, nor garden, nor other possessions; He had neither gold, nor silver, nor money whatsoever, nor any other thing of His own, neither would He consent to accept of the things of this world aught save what did suffice to succour Him in the depths of His great poverty and supply the needs of His body, that is to say, hunger, thirst, and want, cold and heat, great weariness, austerity and hardship. Yet of bodily necessaries would He accept naught that was delicate or pleasant to the taste, but only coarse and common food such as was found in those places and provinces wherein Christ did live as liveth a beggar, without house or habitation.
The second degree of Christ's poverty was greater than the first, seeing that He did desire to be poor in friends and kindred and in all familiarity with the great and powerful, and finally in all worldly friendship. Wherefore did He not possess, nor desire to possess, any friend whatsoever of His own, nor yet of His mother or His putative father Joseph, or His disciples. For this reason did none hesitate to kick Him, strike Him, and scourge Him, and to speak hurtful words unto Him. And He deigned to be born of a poor and humble mother and to be brought up subject unto a poor carpenter, His putative father. He did likewise deprive Himself of the love and familiar intercourse of kings and rulers, of priests and scribes, and of the love of friends and kindred — so that neither for His mother's sake, nor for any other person, would He leave undone aught the which could be pleasing unto His Almighty Father or according unto His will. Amen.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre