What is the difference between poverty of the soul and poverty of the spirit

Faustina , Humility can bear positive fruit from the trials and tribulations that affect us as we journey down the winding and tortuous road of life.

Such a trial or crisis might include the death of a loved one, alcoholism, depression, financial ruin, or any one of life's disasters that we may face. Prior to the crisis, one thinks, "Life is great!

When troubles begin, though, the soul begins to question, "Is this what life is about? In spite of material wealth, it is the proud person who is spiritually bankrupt. Our Lord told St. Faustina, "The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because my grace turns away from them to humble souls" Diary , The humble person is in the world but not part of it.

He has detachment from worldly things and recognizes that the lasting pearl is the kingdom of God. Our Lord spoke about this to St. Faustina and said, "Today, penetrate into the spirit of My poverty and arrange everything in such a way that the most destitute will have no reason to envy you.

I find pleasure, not in large buildings and magnificent structures, but in a pure and humble heart" Diary , Questions for Discussion: Spiritual poverty and humility are important virtues as we try to grow spiritually; they are very difficult to achieve as we live in a consumer-driven and materialistic society.

Money and materialistic success should not be our driving force and the reason we get up in the morning. It is only when we have complete abandonment to God that we find true happiness. What did St.

Faustina say about spiritual poverty? In what way does having an attitude of spiritual poverty lead us to greater freedom? Identifying the Poverty Spirit. Identifying A Poverty Spirit.

View Course. The Strange Way the Bible Talks About Poverty Poverty is a common topic in Scripture, which—interestingly enough—refers to it in a possessive manner, like something a person can own: Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.

Looking at the World Through the Lens of Lack A poverty spirit is a paradigm or viewpoint through which you see your life. Expecting Problems or Lack One day I was running late to meet someone at a coffee shop. Pay attention to your automatic response of lack or the expectation of problems: Things are always going to fail.

I am not handsome enough or beautiful enough. These are fingerprints of a poverty spirit. Replace the Lies With Truth Merely recognizing the poverty spirit in our lives is not enough. Here are a few biblical examples of the truth about who you are as a beloved child of God: You are more than enough.

God deeply loves you. All things are possible in Christ Jesus. This simple prayer can help in your quest to root up the weeds of poverty: Father, thank You for showing me the lie that grows in my heart. God bless your Prosperous Soul. Lauren Stinton June 13, Facebook 0 Twitter Tumblr Pinterest 0 0 Likes.

In short, poverty of spirit is an emptying of self so that God can fill us with life and love. Our prayer helps us grow in spiritual poverty and freedom. Christ is the model of spiritual poverty par excellence. Christ also lived in actual or material poverty , with a lack of material goods. Some people may be called to this way of living. Priests, brothers, and sisters in religious orders profess a vow of poverty, renouncing personal possessions and wealth and depending on their religious community for their material needs.

God may call others to a life of material poverty without professing vows. Material poverty is not an end in itself, for abject poverty is degrading to the human person as a survey of our world so tragically reveals. Although not everyone is called to live a life of actual poverty, we are all called to live simply and in freedom with respect to the riches we have—whether they are in the form of material possessions, talents, reputation, or influence.

All are called to labor with Christ to help the poor and powerless in some way. All are called to give countercultural witness to the rampant competition and materialism around us.