- The economy and the religious life

26.        It is important to establish the relationship between these two elements clearly whilst taking into account the nature of each of them. Religious life cannot carry out its mission well if the necessary economic resources are not available; the economic resources of a congregation will not be guided in the right direction if they are not at the service of the mission. At the same time we should remember that financial management is not only a matter of poverty, but also of obedience, since there are laws of the Church, of one’s own Institute and of Governments which must be respected; poverty is also linked to chastity, because we must have no ties if we are to put what we have at the service of humanity.