The Use of Riches

You cannot serve both God and mammon. Remember this well, you who are dominated by the love of gold, you who would sell your soul to possess  treasures because they can set you above other people and provide you with the pleasures of the passions. No,  you cannot serve both God and mammon! Therefore, if you feel your soul dominated by the covetousness of the flesh, make haste to rid yourselves of the yoke that crushes you, because the just and strict God will say to you, “What did you do with the wealth I entrusted to you, you unfaithful steward? Only to serve your personal satisfaction did you use that driving power for doing good deeds.”

What then is the best use of wealth? Seek in the words “Love one another” the solution to this problem. Therein lies the secret for the good use of riches. Those who are animated by love for their neighbor have their course of action all traced out. The use of wealth that best pleases God involves charity; not that cold and selfish charity that consists in scattering around oneself the surplus of a golden existence, but rather the charity filled with love that seeks out the unfortunate and lifts them up without humiliating them. You who are rich: give of your superfluity. Do more: give something of what you consider necessary to you, because what is necessary to you is still superfluous.  However, give wisely. Do not reject those who complain because you are afraid that you might be deceived; go to the source of the ill. First, seek to alleviate; next, gather information and see if work, counseling or even affability might not be more effective than your charitable donations. In addition to your wealth, spread all around you the love of God, the love of labor and the love for one’s neighbor. Set your riches upon a foundation which will never fail you and which will bring you the big profits of good deeds. The riches of intelligence should serve you just as the riches of gold. Spread the treasures of learning all around you; scatter the treasures of your love over your brothers and sisters and they will bear fruit.

Cheverus (Bordeaux, 1861)