The Month of the Holy Rosary – Poverty

In the Catholic faith, we are called to care for the poor and to work to alleviate poverty. We are also called to be aware of the causes of poverty and to work to change them. Scripture reminds us that we can be financially poor but we can also be poor in spirit and that as followers of Jesus we should show mercy to all people, especially those most in need.

Poverty isn’t just about helping the poor. True ‘poverty of spirit’ is, despite having material things, money or success, we place our relationship with God ahead of our possessions. Recognising our poverty without God and our need for His Grace.
Maybe make a donation, items, or time to charity.

Find time to pray the Hail Mary or the Rosary this week.

Day 1 – Start with scripture

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

Read this Gospel passage. Think about what Jesus is trying to explain to His disciples…

A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Mark
R. Glory to You O Lord

 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour your father and mother.’”  And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”  And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”  And the disciples were amazed at his words.

The Gospel of the Lord
R. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Mark 10:17-24

Spend some time in pairs or threes and talk about the questions below. When you’re finished share them with the whole form and see where the dialogue takes you.

Discussion Questions:

Is Jesus saying that having possessions is wrong?

Why are the disciples amazed by Jesus’ words?

Click below to “Add Comment” and capture some of what has been said in your form for others to see.

Let us pray together:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit, through your death gave life to the world; free me from all my sins and from every evil and help me to let go of anything which separates me from You. Amen.

Sts Peter and Paul: Pray for us.

Amen.

Day 2 – True Poverty of spirit

World poverty?

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

Poverty is a word that is thrown around in our society. The world food crisis can be easily seen in the media or online. But, do you need to go to Africa or Sri Lanka to find those that are truly poor? The answer is NO. You don’t need to look far in our own communities to find those that have less, or nothing at all. Charity is the answer to poverty. It doesn’t matter how much we can give, something is always better than nothing. But, we need to look beyond the surface poverty. The label disguises the real person who is living in this reality everyday. Each and everyone of us is poor without God’s love. In this way, we are all one people and need each others help.

Let us pray together and ask our Blessed Mother to help us see our own poverty:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Sts Peter and Paul: Pray for us.

Day 3 – Is poverty being homeless?

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

Today we will explore the reality behind the word ‘poverty’.

Poverty is much more than a lack of money or being homeless. Poverty can be emotional, physical and spiritual, all at the same time. The one truth that binds us all together is that everyone of us is living in poverty if we don’t make space for, and ask God into our lives. When we do that, great and wonderful things happen in our lives and the people around us. We can all help someone today. One single act of kindness can change someone’s world.

Let us invite God into our lives and the lives of each other:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and every shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Sts Peter and Paul: Pray for us

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16 comments

comments user
10BC

God is not saying don’t have possessions, but if you do, to share what we do have with the poor and not keep it all to ourselves.

The rich people will find it hard as they are often greedy and some people may not make it to Heaven.
They might be questioning him if he is actually the son of God
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comments user
10API

10API
He is not saying that having possessions is wrong, he is saying that it is important that we give to other people. We could give other people our things we no longer need, our time, our guidance in order to support them with whatever they are struggling with at the moment.
The disciples are amazed because they have to give up material things.
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comments user
12FSM

– Jesus does not tell us to get rid our our possessions but to put our relationship with God first.
-Previously more wealth and material goods meant you were more divine, but Jesus claims you can be poor in spirit but rich in wealth.
– Jesus says that having possessions is fine but we shouldn’t seek comfort in them, only in himself.
-Because Jesus showed them s perspective on material wealth.
– No
– because back in the day of Jesus people were more materialistic.
– No
– Disciples are amazed because Jesus shows the value of spiritual connection with God.
-No
– disciples were amazed because of how difficult it would be to enter the kingdom of God with possessions
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comments user
10-LF

He is not saying having possessions is wrong but sometimes it can lack your judgement. You need to be rich in spirit. All that you have is your soul.
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comments user
11MF

No, Jesus is saying that those with possessions usually hoard them.
They should share their wealth.
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comments user
10KG

Our possessions should not be more important to us than our relationship with God.
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    comments user
    10KG

    Jesus didn’t say we should not have any possessions but instead he states that we should seek God and put him first before any materialistic thing.
    Reply
comments user
Mrs Potter

Jesus doesn’t not want us to have possessions, but he wants us to put God before our possessions, and understand that those possessions are less important than our relationship with God. Jesus is also letting us know that we shouldn’t prioritise our possessions.
The disciples were amazed by his words because Jesus was basically saying that those who do not have wealth will be prioritised over those that have wealth and do not share it or give it away.
I disagree with God wanting to give up all possessions, because we have some possessions that have a lot of meaning to us and if God loves us all, then he should love the rich too.
I think it is a little bit unrealistic to sell all possessions because what would we do if we sold everything we own?
I think that God is talking in a parable here – he doesn’t actually want us to sell all possessions, he just wants to test us and make us realise what is important to us and what we can give up and live without.
I think that God might be testing us but he could have done it in a different way than telling us to sell all possessions.
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comments user
8EOY

charity
help the mentally poor
give out donations
help with aid
give food
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comments user
9ACA

Possessions are not inherently bad, but the attitudes they can develop inside of us can limit our closeness to God/the Gospel message.

The disciples might be shocked because Jesus implies that society might be too greedy to enter heaven, allowing their possessions to control their lives and actions.
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comments user
7MFI

Day 1:
– Jesus isn’t saying having things is bad, just don’t let it get to your head.
– Furthermore, you can’t take things with you.
– Possessions are for you, to keep you alive and happy. However, if you become for them, then that is bad.
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comments user
13LT

Value people above your possessions. Jesus was not against property and wealth but advocated using it to help others.
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comments user
9CG

Jesus isn’t saying having possessions is wrong, but Jesus doesn’t think possessions are important. Richness is not important because the more kind you are the more love you will have. If you are in a good position help others and give money.

The disciples are amazed by His words because He gives good advice and he’s interesting. They were amazed because wealthy people find it difficult to give away what they have.
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comments user
8NH

Appreciate what we have. Enjoy what you have, it may be gone later.
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comments user
10CAN

– Jesus isn’t saying it’s bad to have possessions, but that if we are wealthy, we should share it with the poor.
– They are amazed because Jesus’ message goes against the leaders and pharisees who have usually have a lot of possessions.
– They are shocked because he is saying he is not ‘good’ but that God is
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8JHO

Having possessions is not the most important thing for Catholics. We should not be so focused on having lots of things, just because we have lots of things it does not make you a good person.
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