Poverty

by Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap

In four chapters Father Cantalamessa deals with each of four different aspects of poverty in the light of the Gospel message of Christ: Negative material poverty, an unfortunate social condition endured by far too many which is dehumanizing and must be combated; Positive material poverty, an evangelical ideal which liberates people from their inordinate attachments to the things of this world; Negative spiritual poverty, sometimes referred to as the poverty of the rich because it is characterized by the absence of spiritual wealth and of truly human values; and Positive spiritual poverty, otherwise known as the wealth of the poor, the finest blossom on the tree of biblical poverty. Following the example of St. Francis of Assisi the author shows how wealth, properly appreciated and used in the service of the poor, can actually be a source of blessing and peace.

Genres: Catholic

Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

About the author

Father Raniero Cantalamessa is a Franciscan Capuchin Catholic Priest. Born in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, 22 July 1934, ordained priest in 1958. Divinity Doctor (Fribourg 1962) and Doctor in classical literature (Milan 1966). Former Ordinary Professor of History of Ancient Christianity and Director of the Department of Religious Sciences at the Catholic University of Milan. Member of the International Theological Commission (1975-1981) and for 12 years member of the Catholic Delegation for the dialogue with the Pentecostal Churches.

In 1979 he resigned his teaching position to become a full time preacher of the Gospel. In 1980 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II Preacher to the Papal Household and confirmed in that position by pope Benedict XVI in 2005. In this capacity he preaches a weekly sermon in Advent and Lent in the presence of the Pope, the cardinals, bishops an prelates of the Roman Curia and the general superiors of religious orders. He is also frequently invited to speak in many countries around the world, both to Catholic and Protestant audiences.

He has received an Honorary degree in Laws from Notre Dame University (Indiana), in Sciences of communication from the University of Macerata (Italy) and in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio).
In addition to his early scholar books on patristic Christology, Easter in the Ancient Church and other topics he has published numerous books on spirituality fruit of his preaching to the papal Household, translated in more than twenty foreign languages.
For 14 years, from 1994 to 2010 he has run a weekly program on the first channel of the Italian state television (RAI) on the Gospel of the following Sunday.

From 2009, when he is not engaged in preaching, he lives in an hermitage, at Cittaducale (Rieti) ministering to a small community of cloistered nuns.
The 18 July 2013 he has been confirmed by pope Francis as Preacher to the Papal Household.

Reviews

[Patrick Santino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one significantly more than Obedience. Maybe because for me obedience is more simple or one-dimensional & there isn’t as much to reflect on; perhaps this poverty one was just better written. The book was divided into 4 chapters – all relevant to American Catholics. The first, negative material poverty that must be combatted: homelessness in 1st World cities & the 3rd World in general. The second positive material poverty sought out by Jesus & mendicant orders – this had very valuable lessons & reflections for all Catholics about simplicity & asceticism. The third, negative spiritual poverty that is rampant in the Developed Western World, this I thought was the strongest part of the book. Sure, picking on the materially affluent but spiritually impoverished is like shooting fish in a barrel, but some of his thoughts & ideas were excellently “out of the box,” to the point I will quote just one here at the end of this review. Finally, the fourth chapter was on positive spiritual poverty (“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”) – mostly about a childlike simplicity & trusting abandonment to God. Overall a GREAT short read that packs quite a punch. Pg 66, “In the light of eternity the rich man resembles a poor beggar who one night has a beautiful dream. He dreams that he has suddenly inherited a huge fortune. In the dream, he is covered in splendid clothes and surrounded with gold & silver, the owner of fields and vineyards, so proud that he even despises his own father and pretends not to recognize him…But in the morning, he wakes up to find himself clutching a handful of flies. So it is with the rich man who awakes in eternity. It was even less than a dream.”

[Alberto Lagomarsini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es que si se leen otros dos libros, es da esa sensación de que hasta no acabarlo no estaré tranquilo. Su prólogo sencillo por Andrea Bocelli es el preámbulo de una obra sencilla pero muy clara sobre el tema. Creo que es una joya de obra.

[Matthew Heidenreich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very simple, very profound. This is a message for our times!

[Sonny Sweatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with poverty excellently. It manages to capture the subject matter in a very objective manner without losing it's subjective power. Cantalmessa discusses, throughout the book, very abstract and sometimes fleeting themes brilliantly. I would recommend this book to anyone that is willing to take time to read it. It isn't thick page-wise, though you may be forced to doing some word defining. Read it.