Of poverty
Rodriguez, The Practice of Perfection and Christian Virtues, 1929, p. 386
- I. Not to give or receive from another, either within or without the house, anything without leave.
- II. Not to borrow or take anything from the house, or the room of another, without leave.
- III. Not to keep anything superfluous, stripping myself of all that is not necessary to me, as well in books and the furniture of my room, as in dress and food and everything else.
- IV. Even in the necessary things of which I have the use, I must make a point of showing myself a poor man, because such I am, contriving that my things be the poorest, the plainest and of least value. Thus in my room, in my dress, in my food, and in all the rest the virtue of poverty is ever to shine out, and I am to let it be seen that I am a poor man; desiring and rejoicing that the worst of the house be ever for me for my greater abnegation and spiritual profit.
- V. To rejoice that even in necessary things something is wanting to me, because this is to be a true and perfect poor man in spirit, and an imitator of Christ our Redeemer, who being so rich and powerful (2 Cor. viii. 9) made Himself poor for love of us. So do I wish to feel want of even necessary things, suffering hunger, thirst, cold, weariness and nakedness.