“Do not be miserly with others for the sake of wealth; your soul is of more value to you than riches.
You shall share these treasures with strangers, whether they are powerful or not. You shall share them with the poor from who you can expect to receive no reward.
You shall share them with the elderly and widows. I am telling you no lie, but do not give them to sinners who have already sufficient wealth.
You shall give to each in turn, and with the greatest secrecy, but without pomp and without boasting, for in this lies it’s virtue.”
A Reading from The Rule of Carthage, a Celtic monastic rule dating from the seventh century, concerning the duties of a spiritual director.
Robert Atwell in Celebrating the Saints: Daily Spiritual Readings to accompany the calendars of the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Church in Wales (Norwich: SCM, 2004) 127.