Example of saints helps beat consumerism

While working the market for his father, a young privileged man named Francesco found himself confronted by a misfortunate beggar, who he had no choice but to turn away. However, upon completing his father’s business for the day, Francesco chased after this beggar and gave all he had to the stranger.

This young man is known to us now as St. Francis of Assisi, who abandoned his wealth to follow his faith and aid the poor.

This shining example of charity provides a desperately needed model for Catholics in light of today’s embrace of consumerism.

Along with St. Francis, many of the saints and heroes of our faith adopted a lowly and ascetic lifestyle in their spiritual journeys. From Jesus to Mother Teresa, there is plenty of proof that material wealth and possessions are not essential to happiness or faithfulness.

In fact, their example may imply that poverty and misfortune are what is truly necessary.

Many people would insist that consumerism is morally indifferent. The subtle power and insidious presence of prioritizing want over need cannot be ignored and certainly not overlooked from a Catholic perspective.

Consumerism is a modern arms race that instils the mindset that we need the unnecessary and that self-indulgence is the key to happiness. We are constantly bombarded with seemingly never-ending innovations and an unlimited amount of limited time offers.

The media would like us to think that we need the newest phone, we need to keep up with the latest releases.

But when have we really asked ourselves what we really need? It seems we are more commonly occupied with what we deserve — a weekend trip to the mall and a self-rewarding shopping spree. In our busy lives, we often convince ourselves that we have earned a small dose of indulgence, a “little treat.”

This attitude is fundamentally flawed, and, more often than not, a rationalization brought about to excuse consumerism. Shopping has become a compensation for personal problems we don’t want to deal with. We gladly push aside forgotten resolutions and distance relationships, instead seeking instant gratification in anything that will momentarily give us a misplaced sense of worth. What is this if nothing more than an obvious display of individualism and self-absorption?

Jesus teaches us, “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It is often interpreted that “poor” translates exclusively into “poor in spirit,” but evidently, it seems both meanings have equal worth. In addition, He tells us, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Jesus’ teachings leave little room for the modern concept of consumerism. If we as Catholics are to be as meek, selfless and loving as we profess and vow ourselves to be, we must be counter-cultural and deny this modern mindset of consumerism.

(Rinaldi, 18, is a Grade 12 student at Brebeuf College in Toronto.)