501 part iv: meditations for weekly retreats Therefore Christ, the highest Wisdom, chose poor men for His apostles, because He could convert the world through them more easily than through rich men who are so desirous of wealth. Indeed, because He wanted His apostles (as well as the other faithful) to be dedicated to the Spirit alone, He taught them not to slight this virtue; He showed how it should be taken care of, and He commanded them to preserve it. For this reason, it also happened that upon His coming into the world, He chose poor parents and avoided dealing with the proud and rich Pharisees, except for the sake of their salvation. For they were teachers of greed and not of charity, and they were hirelings and not the true shepherds. Finally, consider that Judas’ horrible downfall had its origin in nothing else but in avarice, which is the enemy of poverty. Prompted by it, he even sold his Teacher, the Lord, Redeemer and Creator, for such a vile and meager price. Compose your colloquy using your affections for the poor Jesus and Mary, and magnanimous resolutions pertaining to poverty, and ask to be struck by death rather than by the wicked desire of seeking and possessing material things. 1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary. MEDITATION IX ON CHARITY 1. Now consider that virtue by which every creature has been created, the earth and Heaven have come into existence, and man has been formed; God became Man, and although He was impervious to suffering, He suffered and was killed in His passible human body; immortal, He died for you not as God, but as a man. By this virtue the heavenly Light, the Teacher of Truth and Spirit of all knowledge was brought down from Heaven upon the apostles and other disciples; by this virtue the one body of the Church of God was brought together with the most diverse peoples of the nations as members and so many sacred
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