Poverty And Alms

Proinde, dilectissimi, si non omnes possunt implere quod Dominus ait, Vendite quae possidetis, illud tamen quod adjecit dicens, Date eleemosynam, omnibus est possibile, si adsit bona voluntas; omnibus facile, si non adsit dira cupiditas; omnibus salubre, si ferveat caritas: cunctis ergo debet esse commune ut omnibus donetur aeterna felicitas. Qui ergo tantam virtutem accipit a Domino ut omnia quae in mundo sunt coelestis regni amore contemnat, quae habet vendat, et egenis expendat. Qui vero tantae virtutis nondum est, de his que habet, in quantum habet, eleemosynam faciat. Tantum operetur bona voluntas quantum suppetit facultas. Perfectus possideat primum virtutis locum, imperfectus saltem perveniat ad secundum. Efficiatur ille gloriose dignus, sit iste laudabiliter largus. Sit ille sanctae paupertatis ardentissimus amator, sit iste sanctorum pauperum piissimus consolator. Habeat iste apud Deum patronos pauperes, quos ille se gaudet virtutis habere consortes. Sit iste talis qui cum Domino judicaturus sedeat; sit ille talis qui ad dexteram judicandus assistat. Sit ille talis qui aeterna tabernacula perpetuo jure possideat; sit iste talis quem ille recipiat. Admonet enim nos Dominus dicens: Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis, qui vos recipiant in aeterna tabernacula. Sanctus Fulgentius Ruspensis, Sermo I, De Dispensatoribus Domini Source: Migne 65.723c-d

Whence, most dearest, if not all are able to fulfill what the Lord says: 'Sell what you have,' that which was added, 'Give alms' 1 is possible for all, if a man has a good will. It is easy for all if one does not have dire cupidity. It is beneficial for all if love is fervent. Therefore it should be common to everyone so that eternal goods shall be given to all. He who receives such virtue from the Lord so that he scorns everything in the world for the love of the heavenly kingdom, let him sell what he has and give it to the poor. But he who does not yet have such virtue, concerning what he does have, as much as he can, let him give alms. Let the good will work as much as ability supports. The perfect man occupies the first place of virtue, the imperfect comes in second place. Let the former be made worthy of glory and the latter praiseworthy for largess. May the former be a most ardent lover of holy poverty and the latter a most pious helper of the holy poor. May the latter have the poor as patrons with God, and may the former rejoice to have such companions of virtue. May the latter be such a one who sits with the Lord coming in judgement, and the former such a one who stands at the right hand for judgement. May the former be he who shall rightly be received in the eternal tabernacles forever, and the latter such a one whom he shall receive. For the Lord exhorts us saying, 'Make yourself friends by the Mammon of iniquity, they who shall receive you into the eternal tabernacles.' 2 Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe, from Sermon 1, On The Stewards of the Lord 1 Lk 12.33 2 Lk 16.9