Poverty as a spiritual challenge: on conformity in Christ

I keep on reflecting on the conditions in which Thomas a Kempis wrote his famous Imitation of Christ.

When I consider his difficult times, I realise that poverty is not necessarily shameful. Times of difficulty need not destroy the light in our lives.

Thomas a Kempis’ famous Imitation of Christ was written in times of widespread poverty and suffering. It was written in the Netherlands in a difficult period when the spiritual life of the church was not inspiring. Thomas lived in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries (cf. previous blog). It fascinates me more and more that a book like the Imitation can be written in such a dark time in the history of humanity.

These centuries were the times of the black fever which killed many people and destroyed whole villages. Agriculture was hit hard by natural disasters like floods which destroyed produce and cause widespread famine. In addition there was the Hundred Years war, with decades of fighting between the important nations in Europe. It was a time of need, of war, of poverty, illness and destruction.

There were sharp contrasts between groups of people. The aristocracy had immense power and wealth. Church leaders were often on their side, on the side of the poweful and mighty, with clergy who were hugely influential. The church offices were often bought by wealthy and influential people.

As as result the church was more interested in power than in spiritual matters. On the other hand there were the great masses of the poor. They were exploited by the aristocracy, but also had to pay taxes to the church. They were often denied education, held captive by superstitious beliefs and treated shamefully.

And yet there was in these times a significant group next to these wealthy and powerful people who thought of their calling in terms of conformity to Christ. They knew and experienced Christ as the Poor One. And they wanted to be poor like Christ was. One can, they argued, be poor, but divine. They did not think of poverty as a fate, but set it up an desired it as an ideal: one gives up material possessions and enjoys bliss.

In this way there came into existence the famous notion of the “poor of Christ” (paupures Christi). This was an inspiring vision which lead to the formation of various groups. There were the beguines, women who proclaimed the divine love, but worked among the poor (there were also a male version). One can be poor, but can live in solidarity with those who have less. Part of this movement was a group who wrote spiritual books which they disseminated among the poor. One can be poor, but need not be uneducated.

The Imitation of Christ is to be understood within this group of dedicated people who wanted to live in conformity with Christ. For them there was holiness in poverty. They were experiencing God’s love in simplicity. Where one sees the face of a loving, simple Christ who liberates one from the trappings of worldly power and outwardness, one experiences true freedom. Those in bondage are not the powerless, but those who sleep lightly and restlessly in their castles and high offices.

Poverty need not be shameful. Adversity need not be destructive. It all depends on how close one lives to Christ. To be rooted in Christ’s love can generate sheer beauty in our lives.