The vow of poverty

Fr. Larry, the pastor of my parish, loves St. Faustina and has evening classes to discuss her Diary, largely to carve out some time so he himself can study it too.

Last week we were on the part in Book I where she copies out what she's been learning about the three vows she's going to take: poverty, chastity, obedience. The priests of our parish are all religious priests, members of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, so they take those same three vows. They live in community; there are about five of them in the rectory now and they have people who help with the domestic chores.

"The vow of poverty in our congregation is not very strict," Fr. Larry was explaining to us. "We have a lot of things that we use, things that help us in our work. I love it when people tease me about it." And he recounted the conversations he sometimes has:

"Father, do you live in a nice house?"
"Yes..."
"Father, do you have a car?"
"Yes...."
"Father, do you have someone who cooks your meals for you?"
"Yes..."
"Father, do you have someone who cleans your house for you?"
"Yes..."
"Father, please let me take a vow of poverty!"