For ordering one’s spending and household
Amendment of Life
For those who have a settled state of life and do not intend to change it, but want to reform their lives for the glory of God.
1.The basic principle
Each person should consider that they will make progress in spiritual and temporal things in the measure that they come out of their own self-love, self-will and self-interest.
2.Imitating Christ
Imagine someone I have never seen, who wants to be perfect. What I would advise that person about spending money and running a household and family, I should do myself.
3.The hour of death
Consider how I would wish to have acted in this matter if I were at the point of death, and act that way now.
4.The day of judgement
Picture how I will stand on the day of judgement, and how I would then wish to have decided this matter; and take now the rule I would then wish to have followed.
5.Sharing goods
In spending and sharing one’s goods, one part should go to the poor, another to the good running of the household, and another to the Church or works of piety. Whoever has much should give much.
Adapted from the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola (1548).