De refugio pauperis ad Deum adiutorem suum
The Blessedness of Holy Poverty
The poor who rely on God find true comfort and freedom by imitating the poverty of Christ.
The poor person is left to you; you will be a helper to the orphan. Blessed is the poor person for whom God is a helper in every tribulation, a comforter in distress, the only hope and confidence in the final hour, and a crown of glory in the kingdom of eternal blessedness. Voluntary poverty, taken up for Christ, is a precious virtue; its eternal reward remains with the angels in heaven, where no thief approaches to steal, no robber to plunder, and no bandit to kill. The rich of this world face many dangers and daily cares, from which the servant of Christ is free, having renounced all things that belong to the world. Great is the freedom of the faithful soul that claims no ownership of anything in the world for the sake of the kingdom of God and the love of Jesus Christ, but possesses all things in Christ, who was poor for our sake and suffered in deed. He who, hanging naked on the cross, had nowhere to lay his head, nor could he move his hand or foot anywhere. Who is like this poor man in all his needs? Truly, no one.
Finding Strength in Divine Will
Poverty is a virtuous path that, when embraced with patience and humility, leads the soul to seek comfort in God alone.
Because of this, His name alone is exalted above all things in heaven and on earth, and is blessed above all things forever. O good poverty, if God hadn't embraced you first, your misery would have been unwelcome to everyone. Blessed is the poverty of things that removes the pride of the eyes and the occasion for many vices; truly, he is poor in spirit who does not take pride in any good word or deed, and does not desire to be in a higher position, lest he fall more heavily. O what a great virtue is a poverty that renounces all things, having nothing of its own; it opens the gate of heaven to the soul, increases the crown of glory, and with the martyrs, it deserves to receive the palm of patience after the distress of this life, brought to completion in the service of Christ. For this is to serve Christ truly and faithfully: to endure poverty and many other hardships for the love of Him. Blessed is he who makes a virtue out of his necessity and infirmity, and who follows the will of God in everything he suffers. Don't be overly saddened, poor one, when you suffer want, nor be indignant if you are mocked or abandoned by your friends. Turn your heart to Christ, who became poor and infirm for your sake, and seek your comfort from God and in God alone, if you wish to be in joy always.
The Single-Minded Pursuit of Christ
The faithful soul must reject worldly comforts and companions to remain steadfast in the service of Christ.
For all other comforts sought outside of God are nothing; they neither last nor satisfy, no matter how great they may seem. Choose, then, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your special friend and relative, and leave everyone else for his sake. Beware of any companion who tries to hinder you from the holy service of Christ, or pull you toward the world and the gates of hell. For the way that leads to the underworld is wide, and many are those who enter through it, says Jesus Christ. He alone is enough to provide perfect comfort, for he can give the kingdom of heaven to all who leave behind the kingdom of the world and all its finery. For the world and its cravings pass away like smoke in the wind and the withering flower of the field. Stand firm, then, my poor brother, in your good resolve to serve God always; remain with your brothers day and night in the many labors of this place that you first chose for God’s sake, having willingly left behind parents and relatives and offered yourself entirely to God, so that you may also rejoice with them most fully in the kingdom of Christ and with all the saints. For in exchange for a little labor and brief pain in this world, eternal rest in heaven will be given back to you.
Reflecting on the Wounds of Christ
Meditation on the suffering of Christ and the poor is the ultimate preparation for death and eternal life.
Diligently reflect on the sacred wounds of Christ and the painful sores of poor Lazarus; it will help you in the struggle when you must die and pass from this world.✦
Read the original Latin
Tibi derelictus est pauper: orphano tu eris adiutor. Beatus ille pauper cui Deus est adiutor in omni tribulatione sua: consolator in angustia unica spes et confidentia in extremis: corona gloriae in regno aeternae beatitudinis. Pretiosa virtus voluntaria paupertas assumpta pro Christo: cuius merces aeterna permanet cum angelis in caelo; ubi fur non appropiat ad furandum: nec raptor ad praedandum, neque latro ad occidendum. In multis periculis et curis cotidianis sunt divites huius saeculi a quibus liber est servus Christi renuntians omnibus quae sunt mundi. Magna libertas animae fidelis quae nil proprietatis habet in aliqua re mundi propter regnum Dei et amorem Iesu Christi: sed omnia possidet in Christo pro nobis pauper et dolens facto. Qui pendens nudus in cruce non habuit ubi caput suum reclinaret: vel manum auts pedem usquam moveret. Quis huic pauperi in omnibus indigentiis similis? Vere ı nullus.
Propter hoc exaltatum est nomen eius solius super omnia in caelo et in terra: et super omnia benedictum in saecula. O bona pauperies: nisi te Deus ante tulisset; tunc tua miseries: cunctis ingrata fuisset. Felix paupertas rerum quae tollit superbiam oculorum: etoccasionem multorum vitiorum, vere ille est pauper spiritu qui de nullo verbo et facto bono superbit, nec in altiore gradu esse cupit ne gravius cadat. O quam magna virtus abdicata paupertas nil habens in proprio; quae animae aperit caeli portam: auget gloriae coronam; et cum martyribus meretur accipere patientiae palmam post huius vitae angustiam: in Christi servitio consummatam. Nam hoc est veraciter et fideliter Christo servire: pro eius amore penuriam et alia multa incommoda sustinere. Beatus qui de necessitate et infirmitate sua facit virtutem: et de omni quod patitur sequitur Dei voluntatem. Noli ergo pauper nimis contristari cum inopiam pateris; nec indignari si derideris: aut ab amicis tuis relinqueris. Converte cor tuum ad Christum pauperem pro te factum et infirmum; quaere solacium tuum a Deo et in Deo solo: si optas ssemper esse in gaudio.
Nam omnia alia solacia foris quaesita nulla sunt: nec durant nec sufficiunt quantumcumque videntur magna. Elige itaque Iesum Christum Dei filium in specialem amicum et cognatum tuum: reliquos omnes relinque propter ipsum. Cave omnem socium volentem te impedire a sancto servitio Christi: et trahere ad saeculum et portas inferni. Lata est enim via quae is ducit ad inferos: et multi sunt qui intrant per eam ait Iesus Christus. Solus ipse sufficit ad perfectum solacium habendum: qui potest dare regnum caelorum omnibus relinquentibus regnum mundi et omonem ornatum eius. Transit enim mundus et concupiscentia eius: tamquam fumus venti et flos agri arescens. Sta ergo frater paupercule firmissime in bono proposito semper serviendi Deo: et permane cum fratribus tuis die ac nocte in laboribus multis in loco isto quem propter Deum primitus elegisti; et parentes ac cognatos sponte reliquisti et integre te Deo optulisti: ut etiam cum eis maxime congaudeas in regno Christi et omnibus sanctis. Nam pro parvo labore et brevi dolore in mundo: reddetur tibi aeterna requies in caelo.
Recogita sedule sacra vulnera Christi, et acerba ulcera pauperis Lazari: et proderit tibi in agone quando debes mori et de hoc mundo transire.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.16.20-Luke.16.21 — And a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores. Luke.16.21 — and longing to be fed from what fell from the rich man's table; but even the dogs came and kept licking his sores.
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