The members of the Institute are expected to cultivate the spirit of poverty that will make them witnesses to the world, as being able to live in the midst of material goods without being enslaved by them and without being hindered by them from being completely available.

Our old friend Job was aware of the fact that everything he had and all he was came from God. Our Father Abraham did not hesitate to leave everything and let the Lord make good his poverty. With these two examples in mind, the Voluntas strives to bring to fruition all that he is and all that he has. In this manner he shall be better able to glorify God and share to a greater degree with his brothers and sisters. All good things, whether spiritual or material, come from God. We want them to return to Him after having borne much fruit in and around us, as well as in each one of our brothers and sisters. It is not a question of being poor for poverty's sake; it is rather a question of being poor so as to be with God who will know how to give His friends a hundredfold; it is a question of being poor so as to enrich our brothers and sisters who will know how to respond richly in love and heap upon us the richness of their needs and problems.

Besides retaining the ownership of their personal property or belongings, members are also allowed to administer them and to draw benefits therefrom. In these acts, in conformity with the teaching of Christ to 'watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind' (Lk 12:15), they shall observe the duties of justice and charity.

Members of the Institute shall go beyond the strict obligations of the vow of poverty. They shall avoid useless expenses, sharing their possessions with the poor, endeavoring to love them always more and more.

In professing the vow of poverty, the Voluntas commit themselves to: 1) work for their livelihood; 2) sustain the apostolic endeavors of the Institute; 3) share in accordance with Institute directives and 4) submit to legitimate authority for the proper use of their belongings and the control of their expenses.

Each member shall take seriously his/her obligation of sharing in the District's financial burden so as to avoid overloading his/her confreres or paralyzing the District's apostolic projects. Once his/her contribution has been made, each member is free to administer the remainder as he pleases. In his/her personal administration, the member shall hold dear the living-out of his/her commitment to evangelical poverty while respecting his/her own needs as well as those of his/her confreres and of his/her milieu. (Cf. Statutes, Canadian District, Section 8).