Love for the poor is not a recent novelty born in the Church, although some try to present it as such. It was the Divine Redeemer himself who gave the example and left this remarkable law of charity, bringing his followers to see in those who suffer the divine image of Jesus himself, who inspired them to offer assistance.
However, the divine call to conversion was directed to all, rich or poor, and the kind of poverty that deserved the title of beatitude was that of the spirit: detachment from the things of this world and humility. Consequently, considering some tendential visualizations, we might ask: are there poor who are rich in spirit and rich who are detached from their goods? Is the ‘option for the poor’ exclusive and excluding?
If the idea of the ‘flesh of Christ’ has a relationship with the Mystical Body, is the poverty of the peripheries what makes a person part of this Body? The Magisterium teaches us what the Mystical Body of Christ is, and who its true members are.
Francis
Teachings of the Magisterium
Enter the various parts of our study
I: Is care for the poor something new? Are riches evil in themselves?
II: What is the Mystical Body of Christ? Why does the Church evangelize?