The Virtues of Mary - Poverty

Though Mary came of the ancient line of David, was born at a time when the royal house had been brought to poverty. She was espoused to a poor carpenter, and she was poor all her life. But her poverty was not merely the condition of life in which her lot was cast: it was also a virtue loved and practised by free choice. Consider the precious gifts received from the Three Kings, she and Joseph did not keep them all but gave so much away! She also gloried in possessing nothing else than God and magnified Him for His bounty to the poor. "He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away". Moreover, was her great love to Jesus, Who being infinitely rich made Himself poor for our sake, and Jesus praised them: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". But Mary's poverty, though voluntary and most honourable, was not without unspeakable humiliations and sorrows. Because in her time, poverty, like sterility, would seemed as a curse from heaven. Nazareth, Bethlehem and Egypt can tell us what the humble dwellings and bitter exile must have been for Mary. It is true that the love of Jesus gladdened her amid all her pains. But probably there were also moments in which she lamented her poverty and cannot find words to excuse her inability when she couldn't offer fitting hospitality to honour her 'noble guest' whom she reveres and loves. In her poverty she must shelter and support the Son of God for nearly 30 years! She could only give Him a bed of hay at His Birth. His place was a stable, and His cradle a manger. Then she lived with Him in an obscure village, unhonoured, unnoticed, labouring in a humble workshop. Next she must allow Him to be maintained by poor women who followed Him and supplied Him with His daily food. Finally, she hasn't even got a tomb to lay Him, but must be beholden to another for His restingplace. How often must Mary's maternal heart has shared these wounded feelings of the poor ! The world regards wealth with envy and esteem, and it knows nothing of the hidden loveliness of voluntary poverty. But this treasure is appreciated by the Saints. Voluntary poverty, ever since Jesus and Mary made it known and glorified it by their example, has been the wealth of generous souls and the nourishment of virtues.

(Reference: 'The Virtues of Mary' by Luigi Lanzoni, Loughborough: John Corah & Son, 1897 The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations, Bl Anne Catherine Emmerich, Vol 1)