Prayer for Detachment From Earthly Goods

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Do we really need a prayer for detachment from earthly goods? Don’t we already know that we are to be detached from worldly treasures?

After all, our Lord said, “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul”?

Intellectually, we know this, but yet, we just LOVE our THINGS.

And there is nothing wrong with having things. You don’t have to be materially poor.

We just can’t be attached to them. We can’t base our ideas of our self-worth on the things we own – on keeping up with the Joneses so to speak.

You might own a big, beautiful house, but what would be your reaction if you were to lose that house in a fire?

Of course you would grieve over lost items like pictures and other things of value. You’re human. But the grieving should be short-lived because our treasures mean nothing to God.

This is why Jesus said that “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 10:24. He didn’t say this because you cannot be rich and be a Christian. After all, Jesus had rich followers. However, it is extremely hard to be rich and remain detached, not only from one’s possessions, but from wealth status.

In the end, we have to work on building valuable things that will help us get to heaven. We must strive for spiritual poverty, even if we are wealthy.

So if you find yourself struggling with attachment to possessions, pray this prayer to help you with detachment from your worldly goods.

Happy Are You Poor – The Simple Life & Spiritual Freedom

Prayer for Detachment from Earthly Goods

O Jesus, Who didst choose a life of poverty and obscurity, grant me that grace to keep my heart detached from the transitory things of the world.

Be Thou henceforth my only treasure, for Thou art infinitely more precious than all other possessions.

My heart is too solicitous for the vain and fleeting things of the earth. Make me always mindful of Thy warning words: “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul?”.

Grant me the grace to keep Thy holy example always before my eyes, that I may despise the nothingness of this world and make thee the object of all my desires and affections.

Amen.

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