Secular Sanctity

As you know, the title of my book is Money As Sacrament. Back in 1984, Father Edward Hays wrote about money in one of his many books, Secular Sanctity. Only last year I found his book. What Joy. He wasn't a bit shy about calling money sacramental. At the time, ten years later that I had decided on my title, I was definitely feeling I was in new and scary waters. Sacraments in the Catholic church, were just seven. Yes, seven and only seven. How many times as a Catholic Nun had I taught these church truths. So besides feeling that I was original by using that title -not any longer- I really wondered if the church might kick me out.

Well, they didn't kick me out and I've been spreading this truth: That when we use money with integrity, honesty, and good will, we bring God into the process and our exchange with another becomes sacramental. This truth is catching on and I'm feeling blessed about the whole matter.

Won't you spread the idea as well?

Here are a few paragraphs from Father Hays thoughts on the sacramental use of money:

First we should love our money and take pride in it. It is good to be proud of having earned it, for money is one sign of a job well done. Every paycheck is a pat on the back.

Next, mindful that our money is a sacrament in which we can say “This is me... this is my sweat and toil...” we should use it to nourish our bodies, which it represents. So, part of our income goes for food, clothing, shelter and also for entertainment and fun. This expression of self-love is good and holy.

The dollar bills in your billfold are not only a sign of you, but also of the community to which you belong. They are the frequent reminder that you belong to a certain nation whose money you use symbolically. So, with part of your money you pay taxes. You should rejoice that this communion of self helps to build highways, pay teachers’ salaries and patch up the potholes in the street in front of your house...

Some of your money goes into our Social Security system and is given to the elderly and the needy. So a part of you puts food on the plate of some aged man or woman or helps pay the rent of an elderly person. By means of this withholding payment you are able to put flesh on the words that Jesus speaks about seeing him in those who are in need...

Finally, in numerous ways we are inclined to use parts of our money on gifts to those we love, to friends, and to those organizations, and activities we feel are important to the world and to growth of the human spirit. Whenever we give a gift of money we could seal it with a kiss or a wink...saying, “This is my body...this is me...this is my love.”

Edward Hays. Secular Sanctity, Leavenworth, Kansas, Forest Press of Peace, 1984, 41.
===========================================================
Dear reader, you can see why I fell in love with the words of this unknown priest from Kansas. He had prepared the way for my own thinking and I didn't even know it.