He who has money buys even God's love — a radically cynical proverb suggesting that even divine favour has its price, and that wealth can purchase what should be available only through merit or grace. A bitter commentary on the Church's history of financial indulgences and the behaviour of wealthy patrons.
This proverb sits in the darkest register of Sicilian cynicism and must be understood against the historical background of the Church in Sicily. The island's wealthy families purchased indulgences, funded chapels, donated altarpieces, and paid for masses for their deceased — all practices that, regardless of theological nuance, appeared to the peasant as the literal purchase of divine favour. The rich man who had stolen from his workers could buy a chapel and die with the bishop at his side; the poor man who had lived honestly could not afford a proper funeral. The proverb does not attack God but the human institution that claimed to represent him and that, like every human institution in Sicily, appeared to bend toward wealth. It was said with bitterness rather than blasphemy — the despair of a people who saw injustice encoded into even the sacred.
A Sicilian proverb of dark anti-clerical cynicism, born from the peasant experience of watching wealth purchase religious standing and apparent divine favour. 'Avi dinari' = ha denaro, 's'accatta' = si compra, 'amuri di Diu' = amore di Dio. Found in anticlerical folk song traditions of interior Sicily.
After a corrupt nobleman funded a new church wing
Ha rubato per una vita e adesso ha donato una cappella. Cu avi dinari s'accatta puru l'amuri di Diu.
He stole for a lifetime and now he has donated a chapel. He who has money buys even God's love.
Reflecting on the Church's historical practices in Sicily
Le indulgenze si compravano con i denari. Cu avi dinari s'accatta puru l'amuri di Diu — non lo diciamo noi, lo dice la storia.
Indulgences were purchased with money. He who has money buys even God's love — we do not say it, history does.
A bitter comment at a wealthy parishioner's funeral
Il vescovo in persona. Cu avi dinari s'accatta puru l'amuri di Diu — quando è morto mio padre, c'era solo un prete giovane.
The bishop in person. He who has money buys even God's love — when my father died, there was only a young priest.
Discussing modern equivalents — charity as reputation-laundering
Dona milioni a fondazioni con il suo nome. Cu avi dinari s'accatta puru l'amuri di Diu — anche il rispetto si compra adesso.
He donates millions to foundations with his name on them. He who has money buys even God's love — even respect is bought now.