There are many wonderful things about living in today’s connected world, but a massive downside is a rise in materialism and consumerism. One little way we can fight these is to “shop small” at small or local businesses.
The Church has taken a stand against these downsides of globalization because materialism and consumerism are opposed to the Gospel message of detachment and generosity. Pope Francis wrote in his encylical Fratelli Tutti,
“Opening up to the world” is an expression that has been co-opted by the economic and financial sector and is now used exclusively of openness to foreign interests or to the freedom of economic powers to invest without obstacles or complications in all countries. Local conflicts and disregard for the common good are exploited by the global economy in order to impose a single cultural model. This culture unifies the world, but divides persons and nations…
We are more alone than ever in an increasingly massified world that promotes individual interests and weakens the communitarian dimension of life … As a rule, the advance of this kind of globalism strengthens the identity of the more powerful, who can protect themselves, but it tends to diminish the identity of the weaker and poorer regions, making them more vulnerable and dependent.
He especially condemns “the drive to limitless consumption” that can be an unfortunate side effect of the global economy.
This fall, as we head into preparing for Christmas, let’s make it a point to shop at small businesses and local businesses. In this way, we can each do our part to build a better world.
Not sure where to begin? Here are 12 small Catholic shops on Etsy to support. (For tons more ideas, check out this giant list of small Catholic businesses!)
And today we celebrate...