Archives by: Gary Hoag

“To “renounce all” for Benedict was to strip himself of the notion of personal property, private ownership of material things, because everything belongs to God. In his Rule, Benedict makes no division between natural and supernatural, between sacred and secular.  It all belongs to God.  Every thing, every vessel—whether it comes from the altar, the bakery, the storeroom, the kitchen, the garden—it all is sacred because it all belongs to God.

Benedict was almost ruthless in his adamancy against the notion of private property, of private ownership. We must not indulge ourselves with the delusion of private property, private ownership, because we are not owners of anything.  We are “stewards.”  To Benedict there is no ownership, there is only trusteeship: the responsible holding in trust of something only temporarily loaned to us for its good usage.  And he reminds us that we remain accountable to Christ, the one and only master of all goods, and property, and possessions and talents.  Perhaps, not surprisingly, one of the many titles which Benedict assigned to the abbot is “steward of the household,” with the hope that each monk would equally adopt this same attitude towards the material possessions that come into his life.

For Benedict, to “renounce all” is to be detached from material things.  When we claim “ownership,” it is very difficult to tell whether we are clinging to things or the things clinging to us. And yet, with equal conviction, Benedict commends us to enjoy the things entrusted to us. To not value or enjoy the things which we hold in trust would be to deny the holiness of things and to lose sight of God’s amazing generosity.”

Benedict of Nursia (480-547), in Society of St. John the Evangelist blogpost on 11 July 2006 on The Rule of Saint Benedict 31.10; 32.4-5; 46.1-4; 55.16-17; 64.21-22.

“We have been entrusted with the administration and use of temporal wealth for the common good, not with the everlasting ownership of property…
Let us then invest with the Lord what he has given us, for we have nothing that does not come from him: we are dependent on him for our very existence…
Let us give to him who receives in the person of every poor man or women. Let us give gladly, I say, and great joy will be ours when we receive his promised reward.”

Paulinus of Nola (353-431) in Letters 34.2-4. ACCS II:170.

“It is better to begin from one’s feeble state and end up strong, to progress from small things to larger, than to set your heart from the very first on the perfect way of life, then only to abandon it later–or keep to it solely out of habit, because of what others will think–in which case your labor will be in vain…

Rather, choose a way of life that suits your feeble state; travel on that, and you will live, for your Lord is merciful and he will receive you, not because of your achievements, but because of your intentions, just as he received the destitute woman’s gift.”

Evagrius of Pontus (345-399), Christian Monk in Admonition on Prayer. ACCS II:170.

“Though we have our treasure-chest, it is not made up of purchase-money, as of a religion that has its price. On the monthly day, if he likes, each puts in a small donation; but only if it be his pleasure, and only if he be able: for there is no compulsion; all is voluntary. These gifts are, as it were, piety’s deposit fund. For they are not taken thence and spent on feasts, and drinking-bouts, and eating-houses, but to support and bury poor people, to supply the wants of boys and girls destitute of means and parents, and of old persons confined now to the house; such, too, as have suffered shipwreck; and if there happen to be any in the mines, or banished to the islands, or shut up in the prisons, for nothing but their fidelity to the cause of God’s Church, they become the nurslings of their confession. But it is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See, they say, how they love one another. One in mind and soul, we do not hesitate to share our earthly goods with one another.”

Tertullian of Carthage (155-230), The Apology, XXXIX, 5b-7a, 11a, trans. from Latin by S. Thelwall of Christ’s College.

“Buy for yourselves those things that do not pass away, by means of those temporary things that are not yours!

Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306-373), theologian and hymnographer on Luke 16:1-13 in Commentary on Tatian’s Diatessaron 14.21 (ACCS III:255).

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

“This world and the world to come are enemies. We cannot be friends of both. To get the one, we must give the other up. We think that is better to hate what is here, for it is trivial, temporary and perishable and to value what is there: things good and imperishable.”

Clement of Rome (martyred in 101 by being tied to an anchor and cast into the sea) in 2 Clement 6:3, 5, 6.

“Let those of us who possess earthly wealth open our hearts to those who are in need. Let us show ourselves faithful and obedient to the laws of God. Let us be followers of our Lord’s will in those things that are from the outside and not our own. Let us do this so that we may receive what is our own, that holy and admirable beauty that God forms in people’s souls, making them like himself, according to what we originally were.

Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376-444) in Commentary on Luke, Homily 109 (CGSL 444; ACCS L.256).

“It is easy, of course, to understand that we must give alms and a helping hand to the needy, because Christ receives it in them…We can understand that we have to give alms and that we must not really pick and choose to whom we give them, because we are unable to sift through people’s hearts. When you give alms to all different types of people, then you will reach a few who deserve them. You are hospitable, and your keep your house ready for strangers. Let in the unworthy, in case the worthy might be excluded. You cannot be a judge and sifter of hearts.”

Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Sermon 359A.11-12 (WSA 3 10:216, ACCS L.255).

Whenever we talk about contempt for riches, some rich man replies to me: I have learned not to hope in the uncertainty of riches; I do not want to be rich, lest I fall into temptation; but since I am rich already, what am I to do with the possessions I already have? The apostle [Paul in 1 Timothy 6:18] continues, “Let them give readily, sharing with others.“ What does it mean to share with others? “To share your possessions with the man who does not have any.”

Caesarius of Arles (470-543) in Sermons 182.2 (FC 47:468, ACCS 9.225).

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:21-23

“The prerogative to absolve and retain sins only belongs to God, and the Jews sometimes raised this objection with the Savior, saying, “Who can forgive sins by God alone? The Lord generously gave this authority to those who honored him.”

Theodore of Mopsuestia (c. 350-428) in Commentary on John 7.20.22-25 (CSCO 4 3:357)