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The Lady Poverty: A XIII. Century Allegory

Chapter 7: I
By da Parma Giovanni
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About This Book

A thirteenth-century allegory recounts a saintly founder's quest to find and wed the personified Lady Poverty, narrated in episodic chapters that cover his search, guidance from elders, the discovery on a mountain, and the companions who join him. The work praises evangelical poverty, distinguishes authentic devotion from counterfeit forms, and examines obstacles such as avarice, prudence corrupted into greed, and spiritual sloth. It outlines the ideal conduct of religious life, records Poverty's consent and blessing upon the brethren, and is accompanied by a reflective essay on the spiritual significance of evangelical poverty together with devotional appendices.

HERE BEGINNETH THE HOLY COMMERCE OF THE BLESSED FRANCIS WITH THE LADY POVERTY:

I

IN PRAISE OF POVERTY[18]

Among the cardinal excelling virtues which prepare a place and mansion for God in the Soul of Man, and show a more excellent and ♦1 Cor. xii. 31.♦ a speedier way of approaching and attaining unto Him, Holy Poverty shines resplendent in her authority, and excels all others by her peculiar Grace. For she is the Foundation and Guardian of all the Virtues, and holds the Primacy among the Evangelical Counsels. Wherefore let not the other ♦Matt. vii. 25.♦ Virtues fear should the rain descend, and the floods come, and the winds blow, threatening destruction, if only they have been founded upon the Rock of Poverty. And justly; for the Son of God, the Lord of Hosts and King of Glory, loved this Virtue with a special love, sought this Virtue, found her, and by her wrought Salvation ♦Ps. lxxiii. 12.♦ in the midst of the Earth. Her, in the beginning of His preaching, He placed as a Beacon to lighten those entering the Haven of the Faith, and as chief corner-stone of His House. The Kingdom of Heaven which He promised hereafter to all the Virtues, He openeth to Poverty even in this life. For “Blessed,” He ♦Matt. v. 3.♦ has said, “are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”[19] They are worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven who have freely renounced all Earthly Things out of Love and Desire for Heavenly Things. He must needs live by Heavenly Things who takes no thought of Earthly Things, and counts ♦Phil. iii. 8.♦ them but as dung: even in this our Exile shall he feed on the honied crumbs which fall from the table of the Holy Angels, that he may taste and ♦Ps. xxxiii. 8.♦ see how sweet the Lord is. This is truly to find the Kingdom of Heaven; ’tis the Pledge of an Eternal Mansion therein, and, as it were, a foretaste of the Blessedness to come.