Consecrated Poverty Revisited

The subject of poverty is dangerous and quite capable of stirring up violent emotion in the hearts of people of otherwise perfectly meek and humble temperament. As soon as you begin writing about exterior poverty, it is a different story. People will feel directly and personally threatened by your words. Subsequently, a type of defense mechanism will be called into play which is capable of dispensing a million and one rationalizations to justify any position one wishes to take on the subject. Every man or woman who aims at the perfection of Christian life should practice poverty. This does not mean that the true Christian should not endeavour to improve his material position in life. But neither should the true Christian sit down complacently in luxury while others live in slums and on barely subsistence wages. Dr. Felix Podimattam is one of the best-known moral theologians in India and outside. Besides his full time job as a professor, he finds time to write books at an amazing rate. He has authored 65 books. He knows how to communicate systematically and logically the intricacies of ethics; has a wise word shedding new light on contemporary problems. Besides his Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Mysore, he holds a Licentiate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and subsequently a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Alphosian Academy, Rome, His post-doctoral studies were pursued in Washington, DC, U.S.A. At Present he is professor of moral theology at St. Francis Theological College, Kottayam, Kerala. 978817495 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER ONE WHAT CONSECRATED POVERTY IS NOT 1. Consecrated Poverty is not Hatred of Things, Particularly Money 2. Consecrated Poverty is not Destitution 3. Consecrated Poverty is not Merely Asking Permission. 4. Consecrated Poverty is not Literally Following the Founder 5. Consecrated Poverty is not Mere Collective Sharing of Goods CHAPTER TWO WHAT CONSECRATED POVERTY IS 1. Consecrated Poverty is not a Clearly Delineated Essence. 2. Consecrated Poverty is not to be Understood in Isolation 3. Survey of Insights from Theological Sources 3.1. Insight from Scripture. 3.2. Insight from the Life of Jesus 3 3 Insight from Patristic Tradition 3.4. Insight from t 3.5. Insight from the Opinion of Theologians. 4. Definition of Vow of Poverty CHAPTER THREE LIVING OF CONSECRATED POVERTY 1. Living of Consecrated Poverty as Total Dependence on God 1.1. Detachment from Wealth Ambiguity of Wealth Folly of Consumerism Hollowness of Capitalism Perils of "Technologism" Why Less is More 1.2. Humility Poverty in Spirit God's Humility 2. Living of Consecrated Poverty as Gratuitous Sharing of Goods with Needy Brethren Stewardship. 108 SolidarityIll Frugality 138 Dependence on Work 145 3. Pastoral Considerations 148 Interior Poverty as the Essential Thing. Practice of Exterior Individual Poverty Practice of Exterior Collective Poverty Pastoral Suggestions 4. Consecrated Poverty in My Life