What did Francis mean by 'Poverty'?

'Poverty' is a way of salvation.

Francis didn't see poverty as being something negative. He felt it was a great treasure (albeit primarily spiritual in nature) and that everything in this world should be given up for it because, through it, one could get eternal life and the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven.

"Understand that poverty is a choice way of salvation; the fruit it bears is manifold and rare are they who know it well."

Francis believed in Jesus and His promises. Jesus said that to get "life" we had to give this life up. He said that it was "in dieing that we are reborn". He also said that in "giving up everything we would get everything" spiritually now but everything else, eventually. Francis was a man of faith (he trusted God) who loved and wanted to follow Jesus. If Jesus said this was the way Francis must go then . . . Francis was glad to go that way!

Poverty can be defined as when a creature lacks, in good supply, those things which are basic for survival - living 'on the edge', the possibility of death is ever near. How did Francis define 'Poverty'? I believe he defined it in similar terms. Put more simply poverty means having nothing. Although Francis believed poverty meant having 'no thing', it meant much more to him.

How does giving up everything result in us getting everything? Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are hungry now for they shall be filled. Blessed are those who weep now for they shall laugh." It is by embracing 'no thing' that we are enabled to receive all things. Francis believed with all of his heart that clinging to poverty meant being 'free' - free to know, experience and love God and receive all of His gifts. It also was the door which would allow God to reveal the depths of His love for Francis.

But, in this 'world' having nothing is, to a certain extent, being nothing. It is the one who has the most 'valuable' things - in monetary value - that is the VIP (very important person) in this world. Although no one would claim money defines who is beautiful, influential, successful and powerful - it is often that which confirms (for secular people) the 'value' of those people who are.

For some people if something has no monetary value then it has no value at all! They would argue that things that are 'free' are also probably 'worthless'. Those who have faith know that the 'free' things are often the most valuable - the gifts of God cannot be valued because they are 'priceless' (like life itself!) Secular people see these 'gifts' as being givens - they are always there and do not require work or money on the part of most people to get them. People of faith don't take these gifts of God for granted because they know that God has every right to stop giving them (since they are His to do with as He pleases) and every reason to stop providing them (since men are ungrateful and abuse the gifts!)

The secular perspective is that that which has value is that which others consider desirable. Also, the rarer people feel something is (the harder it is to find/get/keep) then the more value they give it. The very fact that something is scarce often makes others anxious to get it. However, the value of money (and all things in this world) can change over night. Their value is based on supply and demand.

Francis viewed 'Value' as being basically a spiritual concept - e.g. virtues are some of the things that are most valuable in life. 'Values' and 'virtues' are spiritual in that their underlying significance is not just situational, relative or temporal. That which has true 'value' are good in their essence. They are 'eternally' good and, for those who are people of faith, these 'things' of value have a value and an origin that is Divine in nature.

Secular society (without necessarily intending to do so) corrupts and degrades the meaning of the word 'value'. The true (spiritual) meaning of value doesn't mean 'how much it is worth in monetary terms'. A person whose (spiritual) values can be compromised by money (in essence a 'bribe') is a person who really never 'possessed' those values in the first place. An extreme secular perspective that many people believe in is that "Everything and everyone - has it's price." Believers say there are things that are priceless and giving up one's life is not unreasonable to 'hold' on to these treasures!

'Value' is a spiritual concept. The things of greatest 'value' cannot be held with one's hands - they are not 'physical'. However, because they are spiritual (the virtues are an example), they serve as guardians of our souls - protecting our essence that is of divine origins (we were made in the 'image' of God and given life when God 'breathed' His life into us). This makes virtues extremely 'valuable' or, as Francis put it, precious.

Although people talk about it, who can really 'sell' their soul? Who is there that can buy another's soul? What is the 'price' of a soul? We sell our souls by surrendering that which is most profoundly divine about ourselves for something that is 'worth' less. We destroy ourselves when we separate ourselves from that which is divine within us by 'trading' it for that which is temporal, base and 'animalistic' - of this world. Jesus said, "The body is worth more than clothes and your life is worth more than food". He said, however, that those people without faith were willing to sacrifice their body (eternally) to get clothes and give up their (eternal) life to try to get food. When we exchange that which is holy and eternal about ourselves to meet the temporal needs of the body or satisfy sensual pleasure ( animal instinct) that is the 'selling' of our souls.

Also, if we choose to rely on things to establish our 'worth' (in this world) then others can be either more or less 'valuable' than us. Beauty and intelligence, often fade with age so we 'lose' value (in this world) since we lose those things. However, because our value is based on the fact that God made us all wonderfully, in His own image, with the intention that we reign with Him forever then our value remains constant and all of us are equally wonderful - everyone is 'priceless' and 'precious'. Alleluia! No one should be treated disrespectfully or as if they were worthless. 'True value' affirms the Divine will for humanity - that we are God's children and should reign with Him in joy and glory!

Francis wanted to be a faithful child of God. He realized that having things could delude a person into thinking he was something other than that. Francis (and St. Paul) said, "We are only what we are in the eyes of God and nothing more". Having things (and focusing your desire on them) prevents us (or makes it difficult) from meeting our obligations to God: to love Him with ALL of our hearts, souls, minds and bodies. In the same way, it makes it difficult to love your neighbor because if you value 'things' more than your brother or sister will make you choose to hold on to 'things' rather than using those things (thereby losing them) to help your brother.

Finally, Francis knew that if he depended on 'things' to keep body and soul together then he would not be depending fully on God. Jesus made it clear that we must live by faith. Having things (or relying on one's own abilities) could delude one into thinking that one got along fine without God or, even worse, that WE are in control of our world and life (we are 'gods'.) By living hand to mouth Francis was reminded of his utter dependence on His heavenly Father. Also, by being always in need, God taught him he had the right to expect God to provide for him as He had promised - miraculously (although most often God would do this 'miraculously' by having others give Francis alms or providing his sustenance by the work of his hands - ALL things are gifts from God even if we do work for them!)

What are these 'fruits' Francis was speaking about? What makes poverty a 'way of salvation'? Why is it that there are so few who truly understand it's benefits (the riches it brings)? I hope that some of the priests and religious (as well as other Secular Franciscans) will share their thoughts on what Francis said above and also answer these questions. Given their years living the Franciscan way and how they have taken vows/promises of poverty, they are knowledgeable about it's benefits! Please share with us, your little brothers and sisters of Christ and fellow friends of the little poor man, Francis.