Jerome on Building up the Church
Jerome’s letter to Demetrias:
See also: “The North American Church and Global Stewardship,” and “Building on the Tithe.”
Others may build churches, may adorn their walls when built with marbles, may procure massive columns, may deck the unconscious capitals with gold and precious ornaments, may cover church doors with silver and adorn the altars with gold and gems. I do not blame those who do these things; I do not repudiate them. Everyone must follow his own judgment. And it is better to spend one’s money thus than to hoard it up and brood over it. However your duty is of a different kind. It is yours to clothe Christ in the poor, to visit Him in the sick, to feed Him in the hungry, to shelter Him in the homeless, particularly such as are of the household of faith, to support communities of virgins, to take care of God’s servants, of those who are poor in spirit, who serve the same Lord as you day and night, who while they are on earth live the angelic life and speak only of the praises of God. Having food and raiment they rejoice and count themselves rich. They seek for nothing more, contented if only they can persevere in their design. For as soon as they begin to seek more they are shewn to be undeserving even of those things that are needful.
See also: “The North American Church and Global Stewardship,” and “Building on the Tithe.”
Comments
#1 2007-06-13 09:28 (Reply)
As much as I am devoted to St. Jerome, I am not sold that Jerome had all the answers on service to the poor and sick.
The question comes down to, by building splendid churches, are we diminished in our ability to provide charity? In my experience, the same people that come up with money and time for Church building come up with money and time for charity.
Some type of synergy develops when giving greater glory to God which provides for more time, more money, and more compassion. I think the key is free will (as Jerome alludes to). Is a donor allowed to use his good judgement to make the right decisions? Or is he compelled to accept the decisions of others?