Why do Marists choose to live a vow of poverty?
Marists seek to live simply. They try to see people as Christ would: more concerned about a person’s heart than how a person looks or what a person owns. Aware that possessions have the power to actually possess the owner, Marists seek to be as free as possible from material things so as to value people over possessions. This they do in imitation of Christ who reminds us that just as our heavenly Father provides for the lilies of the fields and the birds of the air; how much more so will God care for us? Marists are invited to trust in God’s providence as did Mary; thus freeing themselves to devote their time and energy in the pursuit of the spiritual life and of service to others. What possessions Marists do have are seen as gifts from God for which they are to be good stewards. Good stewardship extends to caring and reverencing the environment and towards sharing more equitably the earth’s resources. In all that they do, Marists strive to maintain solidarity with the poor. At the sam
