Integrity Vol.3 - No.8 - May 1949 - Poverty & Riches - The Church on Riches and Poverty

Sep 29, 2026

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Integrity Vol.3, No.8 (May 1949) presents a Catholic editorial and feature articles under the theme “Poverty & Riches.” The issue argues that frugal circumstances can place believers among the “poor,” then lays out Christian principles concerning wealth and poverty, offering definitions and a moral evaluation of material goods. Subsequent sections develop implications for daily life, including the spiritual risks of wealth and the guidance of Scripture.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages52

Reading Time2 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

E D IT O RI A L

The Church on Riches and Poverty

The Three Stages of the Exterior Life

The Joy of Poverty

Poverty and Marriage

The Detachment of Z.B. Middleton, Esq.

Book Reviews

TEGRI 25c α Copy V自COLLECEL月FA广Vol.3,NO.8 MAY,1949 Subject≈Poverty &Riches 1000 CO N T ENT S 1 EDITORIAL - THE CHURCH ON RICHES AND POVERTY 2 By WALTER SHREWING · THE THREE STAGES OF THE EXTERIOR LIFE 17 By JoHN C.HICKS - THE JOY OF POVERTY By “MRS.J.”·20 POVERTY AND MARRIAGE By ED WILLOCK32 THE DETACHMENT OF Z.B.MIDDLETON,ESQ.By REV.PAUL HANLY FURFEY -38 B0OK REVIEWS44 INTEGRITY Is publshed by lay Catholics amddodicated to the task of dlscovoring the nowsynthesis of RELIGION cmd LIFE for our tlmes. Vol.3,No.8 May 1949 Published Monthly by Integrity Publishing Co.,346 East 86th Street,NewYotk 28,N.Y.,TR 9-5176.Edited by Edward Willock and CarolJackson.Entered as Second Class Matter October 14,1946 atthe Post Office at New York,N.Y.under the Act of March 3,1897.All single copies 25 cents each;yearly sub-scriptions:domestic $3.00,Canadian $3.50,Foreign $4.00. INTEGRITY IS INDEXED IN THB CATHOLIC PERIODICAL INDEX # E D IT O RI A L URING the few years that we spendmaking our insignificant dent in God'suniverse,it is just as well to be countedamong the poor.In the light of theGospels we can hardly expect to en-counter Christ and pass our days withHim in surroundings more elaboratethan frugal comfort.Any other conclu-sion is pure sophistry.The debt thatProvidence exacts from each of us can be paid much more easily in installments than in a lump sum.Ajackass'lot today is preferable to the lot of a goat on the day ofdoom. Such arguments as these were a commonplace among theCatholic poor of but a few generations back.Many of us wereblessed with parents with whom such sublime common sensewas a heritage.Few of us have accepted the heirloom.It canonly be reclaimed the hard way. Like paralytics we must learn again to walk as our forebearswalked naturally.Let us first throw back our heads and laughlong and full-throatedly at the advertisers,the rich,the ambitious,whose liturgy before the altar of the great god Stuff constitutesthe most ridiculous form of idolatry that the angels have everseen.An entire generation of men have never before sold theirbirthright for that which is literally and precisely a mess of pot-tage.Wisdom begins here.Beyond it lies the freedom of a loveaffair with God. THE EDITORS # The Church on Riches and Poverty I shall attempt to bring out the main Christian principles inthis matter of rich and poor.I offer no detailed application ofthem to particular questions of the moment(not even to thosewhich have special interest for myself).My purpose is to rescuethe principles from denial or misunderstanding.I know that tocomprehend them is certainly not to solve our problems forthwith,but I hold that without their comprehension our problems will notbe solved at all. # Definitions First,an attempt at some definitions.Both "riches"and"poverty"are somewhat fuid expressions which easily lead toambiguity.I cannot entirely remove this obstacle,but will sug-gest some distinctions which may be useful.In the first place,"riches”(or “wealth,"which throughout this article is merely asynonym)is a more neutral word than "rich."It may mean nomore than "external goods,"many or few,and one may saywithout irony of a laborer:"His only riches were his cottage andtools and garden."But in some contexts the word implies anexcess of such goods,and this is normally so in the contrast between"riches"and "poverty."The word "rich,"in any case,usuallyimplies excess;to be rich is to have more than one needs. The word "poverty"is felt as some kind of negative,but itis used—and I suppose must inevitably be used—in two senses.It is the negation sometimes of superfluity,sometimes of sufficiency.In the first sense it means having no more than one needs—frugalliving;in the second it means having less than one needs—hardor very hard living.One may sometimes make a convenientdistinction by saying "poverty"in the first sense,"destitution"in thesecond,but this is not always possible.The adjec

FAQs

What is the central theme of this issue of Integrity?

The issue centers on “Poverty & Riches,” exploring how Christian teaching addresses the relationship between wealth, poverty, and spiritual life.

How does the editorial frame the value of being among the poor?

It argues that, in the light of the Gospels, believers cannot expect comfort more elaborate than frugal circumstances, and that such a setting can help align one’s life with Christ.

How are “riches” and “poverty” defined in the article?

“Riches” is treated as a relatively neutral term that can mean external goods, while “poverty” is described as a negative condition used in two senses: lacking superfluity or lacking sufficiency, both relative to needs.

Sep 29, 2026

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