St. Peter Faber
Perhaps if we (Jesuits) had a flair for business…and we had not such a (spiritual) harvest to be reaped…we could concern ourselves more with this problem.” |
St. Peter Faber is the co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the patron saint of Jubilee Holdings Limited. Why him? We chose St. Peter Faber because of his vision regarding ways to address the plight of those who live below the poverty line and because of his perspective on business. Long before others were writing about the value of human dignity or the virtues of work, Faber appeared to be making important connections about the unparalleled role of business - when done well - in enabling individuals to support themselves and their families.
Faber saw the role of business in creating positive, systemic, societal change. While on mission in Mainz, Germany in the 1500s, Faber was appalled by the widespread poverty. He estimated that there were some 6,500 beggars in the city and concluded, “Perhaps if we (Jesuits) had a flair for business…and we had not such a (spiritual) harvest to be reaped…we could concern ourselves more with this problem.” Faber’s response showed vision since at that time the Church’s response to the poor was squarely focused on charity and was generally dismissive regarding the role that business could play in enabling individuals to support themselves and their families with dignity. Faber’s initial response to the plight of the poor wasn’t to provide a soup kitchen to ‘feed a man a fish’ (which is also essential and has its place but cannot be seen as the only solution). |
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Instead, his reaction focused on ‘teaching him to fish’ in order to ensure independence and future sustainability. In a way, we feel that by focusing on ways to provide opportunities for people to support themselves, Faber also recognized the need for human beings to experience self-worth and liberation through the dignity of work. This, coincidentally, is not unlike Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Laborem Exercens when he defines work as not only necessary to provide for ourselves but also to realize our fullest capacity. In other words, work is ‘for man’ and not man ‘for work’.
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Work is ‘for man’ and not man ‘for work’. |
Faber also implicitly challenges businesspeople to ensure that a proper perspective is maintained when he says, “If there were not such a harvest of souls to be reaped”. In stating this, he is reminding himself and us that the highest ends cannot be business and money but first and foremost a concern for providing – whether spiritually, socially or economically - for all human souls, for the common good, for humanity. Everything must serve this end and that includes business. If we are businesspeople therefore, we must also remain aware that our every business decision impacts, for better or for worse, the lives of employees, customers, shareholders and communities.
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