Providing for the Church’s material needs

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ (Luke 10: 1-9)

The mission according to which Christians are sent by Jesus to convert others is a calling, not a job. Those who commit themselves completely to this mission, as do priests, are not obliged to do any other work and are rightfully rewarded by receiving from their brothers and sisters in the faith what they need for their daily lives. Consecrated religious devote every moment of their lives to prayer and to help spiritually those who are entrusted to them. Therefore, all the faithful must therefore help them with donations or with their willingness to carry out small tasks so that they are not materially deprived of anything. Each of us should examine our conscience and ask ourselves whether we are respecting the Church's fifth general precept for all believers: providing for the material needs of the Church.