CHAPTER 9 – CHASTITY AND POVERTY
“Our vow of chastity is nothing but our undivided love for Christ in chastity, then we proceed to the freedom of poverty-poverty is nothing but freedom. And that total surrender is obedience. If I belong to God, if I belong to Christ, then he must be able to use me. That is obedience. Then we give wholehearted service to the poor. That is service. They complete each other. That is our life.” -Mother Teresa
“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given.” -St. Francis of Assisi
Chastity, within the Coworkers of Christ, is more than just abstaining from sexual activity. It’s about cultivating a pure and loving heart, a heart that is free from selfish desires and open to genuine connection with God and others. It’s about living with integrity and respect, honoring the dignity of every person as a child of God. This may mean embracing celibacy for some members, while for others it may mean living faithfully within the context of marriage or committed relationships. Regardless of individual circumstances, the practice of chastity involves cultivating self-control, practicing moderation, and focusing on building healthy and respectful relationships based on love and mutual respect.
Chastity is also about ordering our desires and affections in a way that prioritizes our relationship with God. It’s about recognizing that true fulfillment comes from God, not from fleeting pleasures or unhealthy attachments. This involves a commitment to prayer, self-reflection, and ongoing discernment, seeking to understand God’s call for our lives and striving to live in accordance with that call. It’s not about repression, but rather about freedom – freedom from the tyranny of our own desires, freedom to love more deeply and authentically, and freedom to fully embrace the life God has called us to.
Poverty, for the Coworkers of Christ, is not simply about material deprivation. It’s about embracing a spirit of simplicity and detachment from material possessions. It’s about recognizing that all we have is a gift from God and striving to use those gifts responsibly and generously. This may involve living simply, sharing resources with those in need, and avoiding excessive accumulation of wealth or possessions. It’s about focusing on what truly matters – our relationship with God, our connection with others, and our commitment to serving the world.
The practice of poverty also involves cultivating a spirit of humility and gratitude. It’s about recognizing our dependence on God and trusting in God’s provision. It’s about being grateful for what we have, rather than constantly craving more. This spirit of poverty extends beyond material possessions to encompass other areas of our lives, such as our time, talents, and abilities. It’s about using all that we have been given for the glory of God and the benefit of others.
Chastity and poverty intersect in their shared emphasis on detachment and freedom. Just as chastity frees us from the tyranny of disordered desires, poverty frees us from the tyranny of material possessions. Both practices involve a conscious choice to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. By detaching ourselves from fleeting pleasures and material possessions, we create space in our lives for God to work more deeply within us. This freedom allows us to love more fully, serve more generously, and live more authentically as followers of Christ.
Scriptural Support
Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind. For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well. Luke 12:22-31 (RSV)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matt. 5-8 (RSV)
You were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Gal. 5:13,14 (RSV)
My beloved is all radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. His speech is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. Song of Songs 5:10,16 (RSV)