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1.  Keeping in mind the words of the Lord who said, ‘Go sell what you have and give to the poor, and come, follow me,’1 we have decided to be poor both in fact and in spirit, so that while we endeavour to free people from domination by wealth and to direct them towards the things of the spirit, we ourselves may also conquer greed, imitating Christ, ‘who for our sake became poor, that by his poverty we might become rich.’212 Cor 8:9
2. This spirit of poverty urges us to put our treasure in the kingdom of God’s justice, with a lively trust in the Lord. That spirit offers release from servitude and indeed from solicitude about earthly matters, enabling us to move closer to God, to be more readily available to him, freer to speak about him fearlessly. It is being frugal with ourselves which draws us closer to the poor we are sent to evangelise. It is being generous towards our brothers and neighbours as we freely use our resources, especially for the needs of study and the ministry of salvation for the sake of the kingdom of God: ‘…enduring love will govern all matters pertaining to the fleeting necessities of life.3The Rule of St Augustine, 5