Hugh found joy and meaning in giving to those in need. He was a priest, a bishop, an ex-bishop (by his choice), and a priest again (by popular demand). Hugh really cared about poor folk who did not have enough to feed their families or to clothe themselves and saw no reason that he should have pretty gold bishop-y things (rings, chalices, and the like) or even extra sets of clothing, when there were those in his diocese without any of the basic necessities of life.

Here’s what Hugh did NOT do: Hugh did not send out letters to everyone in his parish (with envelopes included) so that they could give money to the church (no Christmas or Easter appeal, for example, to help the church meet its budget). Hugh did not preach stewardship sermons telling other people to give in ways that he himself did not, nor did he present giving as some spiritual obligation. And think about it–what does it do for the giver to give out of obligation or the recipient to be an obligation? Oh, a useful transfer of assets might take place, but there is no joy, no growth of souls, no lasting value.

Hugh also did not ensure that giving from (even relatively meager) abundance would be tax deductible. He did not create Giving Circles with special recognition for those at each level. Hugh did not gather people together to do fundraisers that simultaneously generate great PR. Hugh did not form committees to set up 5-K run/walks for incorporated charities (complete with boards of directors to then expend those funds).

Hugh just gave. Whatever he had and could, he gave, because it was a joyful thing to him to recognize his own blessings and to bless others. You know what? Butler relates this about Hugh’s spirit and manner of simply giving:

And the happy consequence of St. Hugh’s example this way was, that the rich were moved by it to bestow of their treasures to the necessitous, whereby the wants of all the poor of his diocese were supplied.

Hugh used neither a stick nor a carrot to get others to share. He himself shared and others saw how great this was, how possible and joy-filled it was to make an enormous difference, and… the ravages of poverty were fully taken care of in his corner of the world.