Principles and Practices - October 27

The Poor In Spirit

The opposition between the world and Jesus Christ is still more evident in the evangelical counsels of perfection or the beatitudes given in the Sermon on the Mount.

'Blessed are the poor in spirit,' exclaims our Lord.

'If thou wouldst be perfect, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and come, follow Me.'

Unfortunate are the rich who have their happiness in this world! It is more difficult for them to enter Heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. The world replies:

'Happy are the rich who want for nothing: who have all they wish for, and can satisfy all their fancies, who every day have a sumptuous table and dwell in palaces filled with all that comfort and luxury can invent. A fool indeed is he who loves poverty and prefers it to riches!'

-Msgr. Albert Farges.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930