Sister Formation Bulletin - Poverty in the Modern World and Spiritual Formation

Sep 29, 2026

Sister Formation Conference official publication presenting an address from the 1964 National Catholic Educational Association, part of the Sister Formation program on forming sisters for human rights. The address examines the biblical imperative that there should be no poor among you alongside the reality of the war on poverty, arguing these truths must be integrated. It calls for deep study of the biblical concept of poverty, contrasting angelism that ignores real needs with philanthropy detached from Christian justice, and explains how vowed poverty is lived in the Church through evolving biblical vocabulary and social obligations to oppose poverty.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

POVERTY IN THE MODERN WORLD AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Sister Formation Conference address and conference theme

NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE RT,REV.MSGR.FREDERICK G.HOCHWALTRT.REV.MSGR.JOHN J.VO1GHTVERY REV.MSGR.JAMES T.CURTINREV.WILLIAM J.DUNNE,S.J. REV.JOSEPH F.GALLEN,S.J. REV.ELIO GAMBARI,S.M.M. REV.FREDERICK A.MCGU1RE,C.M. VERY REV.MSGR.ELWOOD C.VOsS BROTHER BONAVENTURE THOMAS,F.S.C. NEW ENGLAND:SISTER ELIZAVETTA.C.s.J. EAST:SISTER MAURA,O.P.MIDWEST:SISTER MARY FRANCINE.0.5.F. This paper was given as an address daring the 1964 convention ofthe Nationai Catholic EducationalAssociation as part of the Sister Forma:tion program on"Formation of Sisters for Human Rights."It is reprintedhere from the Bulletin of the National Catholic Educational Association(August,1964)a record of the four-day convention devoted to the themeof“Catholic Education and National Needs.” Michael Harrington wryly observes,“I guesspoverty has become fashionable.”To align oneselfwith the“war on poverty”is currently politicallysmart,socially avant-garde,and ecumenically stimu-lating.For none of these reasons,however,have wechosen poverty as the theme of this panel.Rather,recognizing the truth of Danielou's dictum,"He whotakes God seriously may be sure he will be a poorman,"we question how to reconcile this truth withthe biblical imperative,"There ought to be no poorin your midst"(Deut.15:4).This apparent paradoxmust be resolved,or,more exactly,these two truthsmust be integrated,if we are to prepare our Sistersto live their vow of poverty meaningfully in a worldwhich has declared“war on poverty.” In striving to reconcile and integrate them,wemust steer our way firmly between the Scylla of anangelism which takes no account of the real needsof men and a Charybdis which reduces Christiancharity and justice to mere natural philanthropy.We shall find our course chartered for us if we in-troduce our Sisters to a study in depth of the bibli-cal concept of poverty.A biblical appreciation ofpoverty ensures a proper understanding of the truenature of poverty and thus the gradual alleviation ofits physical aspects. When we trace the theme of poverty in the Bibleunder so reliable a guide as Albert Gelin—paren- # Sister Formation Bulletin College and University Departnent The Sister Formation Conference seck the advancement of the religious,cuftural,and profesional formation of Sisters,on pre-service and in-aervice feveis. Summer,1964 # OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SISTER FORMATION CONFERENCE NATIONAL SISTER FORMATION COMMITTEE REV.MOTHER KATHRYN MARIE.C.5.C.MOTHER M.PHILOTHEA,F.C.S.P.REV.MOTHER M.REGINA.R.S.M.SISTER RITAMARY,C.H.M.SISTER THOMAS AOUINAS.R.S.M. SISTER ANNETTE.C.s.J.SISTER CATHERINE,D.c.SISTER M.EMIL.1.H.M.SISTER M.EMMANUEL.0.S.F.SISTER GERARD.O.S.F. REGIONAL CHAIRMEN SoUTH:S1STER ST.JOHN,S.5.M.N. SOUTHWEST:SISTER ROSE EMMANUELLA,S.N.J.M. NORTHWEST:SISTER M.ROSE ANNE,C.5.J. ## POVERTY IN THE MODERN WORLD AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION Sister Mary Daniel,S.N.D.de N.Provincial Superior,Maryland ProvinceIlchester,Maryland thetically I might add,I am simply paraphasingGelin—it becomes apparent that it is not contradic-tory to exact poverty of him who takes God seriouslyand yet demand that no poor be in our midst. A long line of poor files through the pages of theBible,and they are presented as the object of God'sconstant and loving care.He takes the poor serious-ly.He consoles them through the voice of the psalm-ist,of Nehemias in 2 Esdras,of many other inspiredones.Through Ben Sirach He commands that thepoor be cared for: My son,rob not the poor man of his livelihood;force not the eyes of the needy to turn away.A hun-gry man grieve not;a needy man anger not;do notexasperate the downtrodden;delay not to give to theneedy.A beggar in distress do not reject;avert notyour face from the poor.From the needy turn notyour eyes;give no man reason to curse you ...Givehearing to the poor man and return his courtesy;de-liver the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor;let not justice be repugnant to you(4:1-10). Through His ins

FAQs

What central problem does the address try to reconcile?

It reconciles the biblical imperative that there ought to be no poor in your midst with the persistent reality of poverty and the political framing of a “war on poverty,” arguing the two truths must be integrated for meaningful vowed life.

How does the address suggest preparing sisters in formation?

It emphasizes study in depth of the biblical concept of poverty so sisters can understand poverty’s true nature and support the gradual alleviation of its physical aspects.

What balance does the address propose regarding Christian charity and justice?

It steers between angelism that ignores men’s real needs and a reduction of charity and justice to mere natural philanthropy, insisting on an active, just Christian concern.

Sep 29, 2026

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