Chapter Seven The Virgin’s Poverty, seventh among her virtues mentioned in the Gospel, which you should possess and cultivate in three ways, in imitation of the Virgin. The poorest Virgin Mary always lived in greatest poverty, and out of this poverty, in order to please God, she thought, spoke, and acted in the following ways: She lodged in a poor place, since there was no room for her at the inn [cf. Lk 2:7]; she laid Jesus in a manger, wrapped Him in cheap swaddling clothes [cf. Lk 2:7] and nourished her Son at her breast, having no other food to give to Him. According to the example and in imitation of the Virgin, devoted souls should love and observe this Gospel pearl of poverty, without which nearly all foundations of perfection fall to ruin. Riches and devotion: These two rarely are found in the same cloister. Therefore those professing this Rule should live as pilgrims [cf. 1 Pt 2:11] in the houses of their Order; their buildings should be without splendor and simply constructed. They lay Jesus in the manger when they love frugal cells and simple bedrooms; they wrap Him in swaddling clothes when they wear coarse and rough garments; and they nourish Him with 58
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