ENCYCLICAL LETTER OF POPE LEO XIH. 125
25. As for those who do not possess the gifts of for. tune, they are taught by the Church that, in God's sight, poverty is no disgrace, and that there is nothing to be ashamed of in seeking one's bread by labor. This is strengthened by what we see in Christ Himself, Who ivhereas He was rick, for our saJces became poor; * and Who, being the Son of God, and God Himself, chose to seem and to be considered the son of a carpenter nay, did not disdain to spend a great part of His life as a car- penter Himself. Is not this the carpenter, the Son of Mary f t From the contemplation of this Divine example it is easy to understand that the true dignity and excel- lence of man lies in his moral qualities, that is, in virtue ; that virtue is the common inheritance of all, equally within the reach of high and low, rich and poor; and that virtue, and virtue alone, wherever found, will be fol- lowed by the rewards of everlasting happiness.' Nay, God Himself seems to incline more to those who suffer evil; for Jesus Christ calls the poor blessed ;J He lov- ingly invites those in labor and grief to come to Him for solace ; and He displays the tenderest charity to the lowly and the oppressed. These reflections cannot fail to keep down the pride of those who are well off, and to cheer the spirit of the afflicted ; to incline the former to generosity and the latter to tranquil resignation. Thus the separation which pride would make tends to disap- pear, nor will it be difficult to make rich and poor join hands in friendly concord.
26. But, if Christian precepts prevail, the two classes will not only be united in the bonds of friendship but also in those of brotherly love. For they will understand
- 2 Corinthians viii. 9. t St. Mark vi. 3.
t St. Matthew v. 3 : "Blessed are the poor in spirit." $ Ibid. xi. 28 : " Come to Me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you."
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