For Theirs Shall Be...Baseball Cards?

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[This post appeared originally on my full site, which is now no longer in operation, in October 2012.]

The first Beatitude that Our Lord gave: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3). So, poverty of spirit is a virtue, as are all the Beatitudes (which is a different article). But what does “poverty of spirit” mean? In a single word, it is synonymous with “detachment.”

I have known a few sisters in my short time as a Catholic. Those sisters are nothing if they are not detached. They are detached from everything except the love of Christ and the gifts and mission that He has given to them. They are the epitome of “poverty of spirit,” in my opinion.

In recent days, a news story has surfaced that a community of sisters in Baltimore, Maryland will be the beneficiary of the auction of a rare, Honus Wagner-baseball card. At this point, their detachment has merited over $65,000 for their community, not including the graces that will lead them toward Heaven.
As a baseball fan and a fan of Catholic sisters in education, I think this is wonderful! If I had a rare baseball card to bequeath to anyone, I would definitely consider my favorite community of workers in the Lord’s vineyard. I guess that would help me to become “detached” from that rare card.

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