619. December 6, St Nicholas of Bari (I)
Meditations no. 546 (unofficial computer-aided translation)
In addition to the supernatural means, God wants us to make use of human means in our work with souls.
To spread the kingdom of God, we have to trust fully in Godâs almighty power and live a life of faith, hope and love. Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. Thus the disciples were told to set out on one occasion, so that they wouldnât be tempted to attribute the miracles and conversions to their own personal qualities.
Opus Dei has also begun in that way, without any human resources, relying exclusively on supernatural means. Our Father wrote back in 1941: In these early years of the Work, I send out my sons to begin new works of apostolate as our Lord sent out his disciples. They are just as poor as the first disciples were, and have nothing but the blessing that God gives them from heaven and the one that I give them on earth.
This is the path that God marked out for his Work, making use of our Fatherâs faithfulness and that of our older brothers. Everything went forward through prayer and sincere penance. There were no human resources. The true poverty of the early times has also characterized the beginning of many new apostolic undertakings. Thus we have learned in a tangible way that the first means for our apostolic work, and the only essential one, are the supernatural means. Our Father tells us, If necessary, we will begin with absolutely nothing, just as we have always done. One has to begin as best one can. This is truly beautiful. But now that we are able to do a bit more, I realize that God no longer wants us to do things as before. Everything will still be done with the same eager hope and love with which we have always begun our work everywhere. It will be done with the same spirit (I donât say with greater spirit, since that doesnât seem possible to me). However, now we have more human resources.
We must strive to obtain all the human means we need by our hard work, while never losing sight of their instrumental character. To fail to do so would be to misunderstand our Lordâs words: seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well. We cannot expect extraordinary displays of divine providence when God places the appropriate human resources within our reach. If a person were to be content with awaiting Godâs assistance, and not do what he can on his own part, he would be tempting God.
Financial resources are necessary in any apostolic undertaking.
Christ taught his disciples the lesson of abandonment to divine providence. But shortly before his Passion, he also showed them the need for human means in their apostolate. âWhen I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?â They said, âNothing.â He said to them, âBut now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one.â In order to carry out his divine mission Jesus himself frequently made use of earthly means, the meagre possessions of those beside him, a few loaves of bread and some fish, a bit of clay⌠.
We need to employ material means in our apostolate, since we are not working with angels but with men, in a society structured by laws that regulate the use of material goods. No one should be surprised that Opus Dei needs material instruments for its work, our Father wrote. Since it carries out its supernatural task of sanctification among men and for men, it must also use a minimum of material resources.
These human means likewise offer an opportunity for many persons to help out generously, and thus to collaborate in and benefit from the apostolates of the Work. These apostolates have as their sole aim the human and spiritual improvement of those taking part. Therefore it is only right that they receive help and support. Many have understood this, including non-Catholics and non-practising Catholics, who obtain an immense spiritual benefit by their collaboration. We ask these persons to give financial help and to devote part of their professional work to the apostolic undertakings that we maintain, and that are always effective also on a human plane. Thus we place these persons at the heart of our work and offer them the opportunity to be Godâs arm for accomplishing his Work among men.
Besides personally trying to obtain material resources, we will also urge others to do so. Our word will be convincing since it will be backed up by our example. Many people look on us with affection; they are grateful for our fraternity, and understand us because we also understand them. And they generously help us to carry out our apostolates. Loyal and sincere friendship with these persons is a source of great joy for us. Our Father wrote: Ask those wonderful friends of ours whom I have called cooperators to collaborate with you in order to provide the Work, from the start, with the instruments needed and to facilitate the apostolic work. They will do so with their own money and with that of others, both Catholics and non-Catholics. Assured of a prudent financial return and without any risk of losses, since the material instrument will always be in their hands, they will share in our spiritual benefits. And they will obtain Godâs abundant blessing for themselves and for their families.
Our personal work is the chief way of obtaining these material instruments.
The first human means that we must utilize is work. We cannot tempt God by demanding that he work miracles when we can and should obtain the necessary economic means by our honest and upright professional work. Our Father has determined that all who come to the Work are to be asked what work they can depend on to support themselves. Even if they are young and are still studying, they can always do something, for example, giving classes, translating documents, and so forth.
Our apostolic work is growing day by day, which brings with it many needs. Opus Dei and its children do not need money. They work, each in his or her own profession, and earn more than enough to support themselves. When it comes to our corporate works, however, the more we are helped, the better we will be able to serve souls.
Very aware of these needs, we ask God, through the intercession of St Nicholas, that we learn to work a lot and well, and that he help us to earn as much income as possible from our work. We have a right to demand a good salary, like the head of any family; it is even a matter of justice, since no one works harder than we do. Indeed our vocation leads us to carry out our work as perfectly as possible.
If need be, we will change jobs in order to bring in more income. The requirements of the apostolate may at times make it advisable that we stay in a poorly-paid job. Even then, however, we try to do everything possible to increase the financial remuneration of that work.
Our concern about financial matters is a well-defined characteristic of our Christian vocation. We are ordinary persons who know the value of money and also know how much things cost. In addition, our effort to support ourselves and our apostolates is part of our path to sanctity, since it requires a number of human virtues. It calls for industriousness, fortitude and daring, as well as a sense of responsibility that makes us feel the full weight of the needs of our supernatural family.
May our Mother, Regina Operis Dei, intercede for us, so that we always feel the weight of the Workâs financial needs. Holy Mary will help us to make the most of our natural gifts, the talents God has entrusted to us and for which he will ask to give an account.