21st October – Pauline’s real cross: the Gospel in society and in social relations
Pauline was deeply moved by the difficult condition of workers, whose misery weakened their courage and virtue. She wanted to create an establishment where the labourer, freed from the slavery of relentless toil, would have a work environment that respected his human dignity. As the daughter of a self-made man and a silk manufacturer, she knows the working environment. She knows the defects of the workers, but also their virtues and charity. She knows the refinements of the world and the monstrous effects a relentless quest for profits can produce. (cf. Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 140). Money, like poverty, can help the heart to open up and bring light to idolatrous peoples, but, as the Curé d'Ars mused when writing to Pauline, monecy can also spread far and wide the plague of bad doctrines and the corruption of morals. (Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 103) Because industry is working to "replace the arms of man with machines, the virtuous worker who once knew and could save for the future, and call down by his alms the blessings from on high upon his work, now knows only selfishness and discomfort. His salary no longer suffices for the multiplied needs of his family. (Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 103).
The situation of workers is difficult to live, to understand, and its analysis is complicated given the historical distance between our time and the early 19th century. The Church can never be exempted from practising charity as an organized activity of believers, and on the other hand, there will never be a situation where the charity of each individual Christian is unnecessary, because in addition to justice man needs, and will always need, love. (Benedict XVI, God is Love, 25 December 2005, nr. 29) The question that remains is how to organise a truly humane work environment, which recognises in man the image of God and is there to help him lead a life in accordance with this dignity. How can we respect and promote the rights and needs of all, especially the poor, the humiliated and all those who are defenceless? How can we foster in every man and woman the love that opens their minds to others, so that their love for their neighbour is no longer imposed, so to speak, from without, but is a consequence of their faith, a faith that works (cf. Gal 5:6)?
When the poor suffer, what do the rich do? These questions are probably not asked today in the way they were in Pauline's time, but they were asked. Love is free and the Christian's programme should be a heart that sees (Benedict XVI, God is Love, no. 31). This was undoubtedly the case with Pauline, who had a heart open for the poor. Meanwhile, the rich satisfy their need for pleasure and the seduction of gold extends its empire and multiplies the number of its victims. (Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 103). How can a just social order be created and preserved, making good use of gold and money? What are the relations between the rich and the poor that should be fostered? How can we live with our hearts detached from material goods? These are the questions that Pauline asked herself as she was convinced that she must preserve virtue and help the Church and missionaries to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The Curé d'Ars did not hesitate to ask the Lord, Have mercy on Christian workers who still prefer suffering to abandoning your holy law. You, Creator, know where the money lies. Give your friends enough to defend themselves. Let me ask for resources for charity, in this century where everything is chained, in proportion to the immense needs of your people. (Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 104).
Pauline wanted to create a Universal Bank for the Poor, a heavenly bank that she had been dreaming of for years. A bank that could begin with a congregation of fifteen people, each of whom could contribute 100,000 francs. This fund, intended to help good initiatives, would be invested so as to produce a 5% gain that could be lent to good works. We will call this bank, The free loans initiative. The money will grow in a typical industry where the worker will be treated with the dignity befitting a Christian, where work will be justly rewarded, where there will be the necessary leisure time and a happy medium. The worker must be given back his dignity as a man by rescuing him from the slavery of unremitting work, his dignity as a father by making him rediscover the charms of the family, his dignity as a Christian by providing him with the hopes of religion. (Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., pp. 104-105). Properly managed, Pauline's Christian factory would be a place that would favour the formation of virtuous workers, who, in turn would foster good relations (a good spirit) in society. Thus, the number of apostle-workers would increase. Unfortunately, Pauline was ruined by swindlers and thieves and experienced enormous difficulties with failure following failure. Pauline's beautiful dream to help the poor lift themselves up from poverty to a life worthy of human dignity was destroyed. Even in Loreto, the misery would be great and the members of the companions of Mary would have to be content, some days, with "a soup of boiled bread seasoned with salt. (Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 134)
The frightening battlefield that marked the city of Lyon in Pauline’s day was marked by clashes between the “men of means” and “those who suffer”, workers and exploited labourers. The first was worth half a penny, the other one penny. (Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 101). Then as now, it was not easy to accept the values of the Gospel in the business world, in the reality of the world of work, at the heart of the search for social justice. Pauline sat on a bench and looked with sadness at the city being burned by this money. Moreover, the setting sun, as if to prove her right, lays its yellow disc on the city like a large gold coin. Her heart burns... (Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 101). Money is needed for the missions, for the proclamation of the Gospel in distant lands, but it is also needed to help the poor here, to transform society so that everyone lives in better conditions and that Gospel values are lived by the greatest number. However, it is a delicate and difficult undertaking. Pauline’s love for the poor and efforts to have the Gospel accepted in society will cost her dearly. It should be noted that in Rome, the Curia continues to admire this woman. It was not only friendship that inspired them, but the deep conviction that they were before a prodigy of moral strength sustained directly by God" (Jean Barbier, Le Curé d'Ars et Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 145).