Chapter III. On imitating our Lord in His poverty

^' The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests ; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head."

One of the first virtues that present themselves to us for imitation in our Lord is poverty; on which we may make three points of meditation.

First point. If we consider poverty in itself naturally, we shall find nothing in it but what is repulsive ; but if we look at it with the eyes of faith in that supernatural state to which the Son of God has exalted it, it will appear most attractive, and we shall see that it is the foundation of the Apostolic life.

Its merit was unknown before the coming of Jesus Christ ; the world shrunk from it in horror. But the Incarnate Word, having espoused it with human nature, consecrated it in His adorable Person. He ennobled and, in a manner, deified it ; He communicated to it so many graces and spiritual treasures, that it is become the delight of Saints, and the object of their love. St. Francis honours it as his queen^ and cherishes it as his spouse. St. Ignatius would have us love it as our mo* ther, and regard it as the rampart of religion, protecting us from the assaults of our enemies.

Second point. Let us consider to what a degree the Son of God loved it, and how He practised it. When He was pleased to become man. He chose a poor woman for His mother. He was bom in the bosom of poverty. The cave of Bethlehem and the manger are proofs of this. Poverty was His constant companion during the whole course of His Life. He lived for thirty years by His own labour, and that of the Blessed Virgin and St. JosepL From the time He began to converse with men He lived only on alms, and never possessed any thing of His own. " The foxes," said He, " have holes, and the birds of the air nests ; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head." He chose for His first disciples only poor fishermen. He suffered every abjection and all the discomforts that commonly attend on poverty ; and, in fine. He died naked on the Cross, having lost all — friends, honour, reputation, credit ; stripped of his raiment and all his temporal goods ; deprived even of the divine consolations which belong to His state of glory ; with nothing remaining to Him that earth could give but shame and suffering.

Third point. Let us consider how we imitate our Lord in the practice of this virtue. In what esteem do we hold poverty? What love do we entertain for it ] Are we glad to experience its effects ? Do we not rather dread them ? Do we trust entirely to God for the support of life, and for all our temporal wants ? Do we not prize riches, and seek them with eagerness ? Do we not cause useless expenses to be incurred in furnishing our apartments 1 Are we content that what is meanest and poorest should be assigned to our use? Do we not display more esteem and affection for rich people just because they enjoy the advantages of &i«time?

Nothing is so injurious to Christianity as when religious are seen to be as much attached to their own interest as seculars. This it is that fills the world with scandals, especially when they are religious of a reformed order, or are believed to be still in their first fervour. It would not be so scandalous in the members of such orders as have already fallen into laxity.

The poverty and humility of our first fathers won more esteem to the Company than their science, their great talents, and the favour of the princes of the eartL If we abandon the practice of these two virtues, we shall lose our reputation, 'and shall bear no more fruit.