‘[T]he Richest Man in Town’

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Friends,

Happy New Year! And May the Lord grant us every grace this year!

I love the scene near the end of It’s a Wonderful Life where George Bailey’s brother Harry—the one for whom George had sacrificed much—and the soldier who was honored by the President himself for his heroism, honors George Bailey.

What a gesture.

Harry recognized in his brother what we often don’t recognize in ourselves: our daily heroism. And in most-moving fashion, he calls George—a man who faces countless tribulations, including monetarily—”the richest man in town” (02:07:00-02:09:00).

The plot of the movie, of course, highlights a crisis George has in one of his challenges, where he wishes he was never born, and God through his angel Clarence shows him what the world would be like without the heroic good he does—there basically would be no good.

Part of the reason we can feel this way is that our lives and vocations may feel thankless—we can do so much good but then feel like others aren’t grateful, or that we don’t get anything in return. Let’s consider a few ideas on how to continue sustaining our Christian lives and vocations, and let us remember always: He who is a friend of God is, indeed, “the richest man in town.”

From It’s a Wonderful Life, Harry toasting his brother George

Everywhere, priests, men and women religious, teachers, parents, lay ministers, many of us give heroically. This without a doubt is sharing in the ministry of Jesus himself: by “spending” of ourselves, even in a sacrificial manner, we love. By sacrificing, like Jesus, we bear rich fruit: we give life.

This is indeed the calling of every Christian because we are then more and more restored: we, who were created in the image and likeness of God, live in the image and likeness of God, of Jesus, who is “love” (Benedict XVI, Paragraph 1).

Yet, we may still feel poorly. We may feel like those we give to aren’t grateful or don’t give back to us. We may also feel like in a world where some have so much, we don’t have much, or that we may need something they have to feel “satisfied,” to feel complete or happy. But this brings up something foundational: fullness of everything is given to us in Jesus, in the Eucharist, in the bread that sustains us in the desert. While, yes, others may be feeding on graces God has given them—prosperity, success, relationships—the lack of these, especially for our Father priests and Bishops, isn’t scarcity. Some of us feed exclusively on the fullness of love that Jesus pours out to us in the Eucharist, where He is fully present. Jesus is loving us.

The Eucharist is the most dramatic gift of love: right before the distribution of Communion, if the church is sufficiently quiet and/or you are near the Altar, you may hear the crackle of the Priest’s Host being broken. This is very real: Jesus is literally broken. He allows Himself to be broken as the one who loves us—and Who loved us before we loved Him—and then allows Himself to be given to each of us as sustenance. Glory to God in the Highest!

Anonynmous, in the manner of Jan van Kessel the Younger, late 18th century

Another aspect of sustaining our Christian lives, especially for those in formal vocations, is a life of devotion. Those in formal vocations like Religious life or sacramental Marriages are living supernatural callings that can only be sustained with a life of grace. Of course, our natural faculties of work and discipline are important, but overwork will not feed us like a life of grace will. Pope Leo recently said that indeed, “we are absorbed by many activities that do not always leave us satisfied.” To battle this, despite our insanely busy schedules, we are called to a life of devotion: let us be sure to feed on God’s love in the Eucharist at least once or twice a week outside of Sunday Mass, and we must allow God to talk to us through preaching. It is important to allow our Fathers and Brothers to preach to us.

Besides Mass, daily silence with the Lord is important: I’d recommend it at least in the morning and in the evening, even if just for a few minutes, and even if duties/work try to pull you away: “Here I am, Lord. Speak, for your servant listens.”

Scripture reading is also crucial: I’d highly recommend reading at least one passage (smaller than a chapter, between the bolded titles many bibles have) from the Gospels, at least once a week.

For me, a weekly Holy Hour is also most impactful. Pope St. John Paul II says that in Eucharistic Adoration we make contact with the “very [source] of grace” (paragraph 25). There are most definitely times where I am unable to make a full Holy Hour, so I at least make it a point to offer at least 30 minutes. And during this time, I find myself unwinding in ways that I didn’t expect. What would be of my life and faith practice if I didn’t follow this?

Devotion as prayer, and service, are also important. A frequent Rosary is a common practice among Catholics and at Fatima the Blessed Virgin Mary even asked for a Daily Rosary (De Marchi, pg. 46). God knows how daunting this goal can be. A minimum of a weekly Rosary is a must, and if married, including your spouse, and if you have kids, with the children. Please consider mentioning any needs you and your family may have, but please also consider expanding this to distant friends and family, and for the needs of the world, keeping in mind the powerful intercession of Mary (to Whom the Rosary is directed) as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

In terms of service, again, we are talking about love, caritas, giving of yourself for others—time, talent, and treasure. The world does not help us to get into a habit of giving, but the Lord reminds us, and culture like American culture reminds us. Another beautiful aspect of It’s a Wonderful Life is a sign in George Bailey’s office: “All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away:” when we give, we build our treasure in Heaven (Matthew chapter 6), what truly is most important.

From It’s a Wonderful Life

Our culture no longer inspires us to these heights of holiness, like this gem-of-a-movie from the 1950s. And a Catholic President from the 1960s John F. Kennedy famously asked—and Praise God it’s been repeated since—“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

It’s critical for us to give; if everyone in the Church only takes, nothing will be left, and critical functions of the Church and apostolates will exist no longer. God, from the beginning, giving us great dignity, counts on our cooperation for the world to continue; we are “caretakers,” “stewards,” “administrators” (Genesis chapter 2).

God with Adam and Eve, From “The Garden of Eden,” Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553)

Some of us already give handsomely—if so, please don’t take these words to heart. For the rest of us, let us renew our giving: I’d recommend, to begin, especially if not in a formal vocation, one hour monthly in a ministry, and especially in the Liturgy, helping the sick and homebound (those who can’t get to Mass even though they would like to), or Catechism (and including in roles that are behind the scenes in these ministries). In terms of the toughest topic of all, of money, if making over 60K gross annually, please consider at least 1% annual income to the Church, given monthly in the preferred mode of the particular Church (for example, digitally, and with autopay setup, or a credit card registered), and at least 1% given to spiritual and corporal works of Mercy, and this can also be to the Parish that has these ministries. (I’ll briefly mention that some credit card companies offer $0-liability on transactions, like Capital One. If you have hesitations using online systems—using a credit card with $0-liability instead of your debit card, used only for desired recurring payments/bills, and paid off monthly so no interest is charged, with the cash you’d otherwise use, is a good workaround for using these systems.) Continuing, if making over 120K gross annually, it’s important to discern how—through this same giving, and more, like 5-10% of income divided among the Church and other efforts like works of mercy as I’ve written about here—you can be a pillar in the Church and in your community: your contribution is the difference between a Church that flourishes or one that dies. And furthermore, a culture that seeks holiness, or one that does not.

Friends, we who know and are friends of God, “are the richest [people] in town.” Our Christian lives and vocations can be trying and even ask us for everything, but please remember that in the Eucharist, God, who loved us first, who gave himself to us first, is giving himself to us—loving us— every time we receive. Nevertheless, our rhythm of life, to continue strengthening and sustaining our Christian lives and vocations, must include devotion—like frequent Mass, silence, scripture, prayer— and service, giving of ourselves. And our contributions to the Church and the Kingdom of God—time, talent, and treasure—are either the life or death of Christianity around us.

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life,

Juan B

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Citations

Benedict XVI, Pope, Deus Caritas Est, https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html. Accessed 12 Jan 2026

De Marchi, IMC, Fr. John, The True Story of Fatima: A complete account of the Fatima Apparitions, Publisher Unknown, Date Unknown, [Digital version] https://fatima.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/The-True-Story-of-Fatima.pdf

It’s a Wonderful Life, Directed by Frank Capra, performances by James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Liberty Films, 1946.

John Paul II, Pope St., Ecclesia de Eucharistia , https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_20030417_eccl-de-euch.html. Accessed 14 Jan 2026

Kennedy, President John F., “President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address (1961)”, National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/president-john-f-kennedys-inaugural-address. Accessed 14 Jan 2026

Leo XIV, Pope, “Pope Leo XIV: True Treasure is Found in the Heart, Not “too much doing”, AICAfrica, Vatican Section, https://www.aciafrica.org/news/19211/pope-leo-xiv-true-treasure-is-found-in-the-heart-not-too-much-doing. Accessed 14 Jan 2026

Image credits

1 – From It’s a Wonderful Life, Amazon Prime
2 – From Roseberys London Art Auctioneers, https://www.roseberys.co.uk/a0602-lot-547703-manner-of-jan-van-kessel-the-younger-late-18th-century-a-chalice Accessed 10 Jan 2026 (Minor editing done)
3 – From It’s a Wonderful Life, Amazon Prime
4 – Public Domain